President Biden signs memorandum aimed at identifying threats

The Biden Administration, Washington D.C., signed a national security memorandum outlining and assigning specific tasks for relevant agencies and bodies to undertake to identify and prepare for threats that might jeopardize the resiliency of U.S. food and agriculture infrastructure.

The memorandum identifies hazardous contaminants such as:

• poisonous agents
• natural or genetically engineered pests and pathogens of livestock, poultry, fish, shellfish, wildlife, plants, and insects
• physical effects of nuclear detonations or dispersion of radioactive materials as well as threats that may result in high-consequence and catastrophic incidents including pandemics, climate change, and threats in the cyber domain, as potential threats to the food and agriculture infrastructure

“The evolving threat environment requires the sector and its essential workforce to better prepare for and respond to incidents with broad impacts on our national and economic security,” reads the memorandum.

Associations across the food and agriculture industries have applauded Biden’s move.

“Our agricultural sector faces a variety of threats that could inhibit cattle producers’ ability to bring beef from pasture to plate,” says Colin Woodall, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association chief executive officer.

“NCBA appreciates the Biden administration’s focus on identifying threats and developing new ways to mitigate them. Together, we can protect our industry, while ensuring that all Americans have access to wholesome foods like beef.”

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