1. Agroterrorism and Food Systems Defense key issues and research needs

2. John Shutske, Professor University of Minnesota Center for Public Health Preparedness College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences John Shutske, Professor University of Minnesota Center for Public Health Preparedness College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences

3. Why Should We be Concerned About Agriculture and Food as a Vulnerable Infrastructure? (in need of rural P.H. preparedness expertise…)

4. Five Reasons

5. 1. Size, economic impact of agricultural and food industries

6. Why Be Concerned About the Food System? In 2001, food and fiber industry: − employed nearly 24 million people − had output > $2 trillion − generated > $1.24 trillion worth in value added − 12.3% of total gross domestic product. − 17% percent of American workers in the food and fiber system From USDA Economic Research Service (ERS)

7. We’re Talking About Much More than Just “The Farm” Food Process Distribution Chain TransportDistribution Center Processor D/C - Warehouse Farm and Input supplier Retail grocer or restaurant Adapted from materials by Dr. Ted Labuza, University of Minnesota

8. Five Reasons 2. Global nature of our food supply

9. Worldwide, MANY People Producing Food (number is in millions) 2.7 billion total

10. Bananas Cheese Grains Cocoa Oils Seafood Vegetables Juices Fresh Meat Processed Meat Spices Globalization Graphic from National Ctr. For Food Protection and Defense

11. Five Reasons 3. 2,000,000 vulnerable nodes in this country alone

12. Prevention vs. Preparedness

13. Which is Easier to Fully Protect?

14. Five Reasons 4. Overlap of CDC Category A,B,and C Agents with Agricultural, Food, and Animals

15. CDC Biological agents: The Category “A” List Agents of high risk to national security − easily disseminated or transmitted person-to-person. − high mortality with potential for major public health impact. − may cause panic and social disruption. − require special action for public health preparedness.

16. The “A” List Anthrax Smallpox Plague Tularemia Botulism Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Which are zoonotic?

18. Five Reasons 5. We all eat!

19. Symbolically….. The relationship between people and our food supply is an intimate one.

20. Imagine Waking Up to the News.. Dairy herds found simultaneously infected in CA, FL, Maine, and WA Biological/chemical toxins discovered in school lunches in Lebanon, Kansas Why Lebanon Kansas?

21. Two Tabletop Exercises to help people think about preparedness issues and the need to work together H5N1 Avian Influenza – The potential public health “perfect storm” (biggest risk factor in Asia is co-mingling of chickens, pigs, ducks, and people!) Intentional contamination of an agricultural product with Clostridium botulinum toxin.

22. Challenges Critical mass of support. − For research, education, and community outreach from our federal and state funding partners − Locally for qualified staff and recognition that public health is mission critical in rural U.S. Appreciation that agriculture and food is integral to our national security. An understanding that agriculture and food is not simply cute cows and amber waves of grain. Balancing “terrorism” issue with other concerns (natural disasters, etc.)

23. Research Questions How do we garner support and buy-in from the private sector – What protective practices have the highest returns on investment? How do we help communities and businesses deal with the changing demographics of those working in our agricultural and food industries? What are the proven ways to increase the recognition and perceived value of public health (people and the work that they do) in rural communities? How do we best work together – public health, medicine, veterinary medicine, agriculture, policy? How can we engage urban citizens in issues of rural preparedness (politically and otherwise)? What is the optimal balance of basic awareness building education versus in-depth technical skill building (decontamination, recovery, disposal, investigation, etc.)