Cyberbiosecurity: A New Perspective on Protecting U.S. Food and Agricultural System

Abstract

Our national data and infrastructure security issues affecting the “bioeconomy” are evolving rapidly. Simultaneously, the conversation about cyber security of the U.S. food and agricultural system (cyber biosecurity) is incomplete and disjointed. The food and agricultural production sectors influence over 20% of the nation's economy ($6.7T) and 15% of U.S. employment (43.3M jobs). The food and agricultural sectors are immensely diverse and they require advanced technologies and efficiencies that rely on computer technologies, big data, cloud-based data storage, and internet accessibility. There is a critical need to safeguard the cyber biosecurity of our bio economy, but currently protections are minimal and do not broadly exist across the food and agricultural system. Using the food safety management Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point system concept as an introductory point of reference, we identify important features in broad food and agricultural production and food systems: dairy, food animals, row crops, fruits and vegetables, and environmental resources (water). This analysis explores the relevant concepts of cyber biosecurity from food production to the end product user (such as the consumer) and considers the integration of diverse transportation, supplier, and retailer networks. We describe common challenges and unique barriers across these systems and recommend solutions to advance the role of cyber biosecurity in the food and agricultural sectors.

Security and Privacy in Smart Farming: Challenges and Opportunities

“…Insights from their work reflect that over half of the respondents have been victims of a computer security incident, demonstrating that even individuals working in agriculture can be impacted by cybersecurity incidents. Cyberbiosecurity [92] is a multidisciplinary domain consists of cybersecurity, bio-security, and cyber-physical security. It discusses how current and emerging information technologies affect the cybersecurity of large portion of U.S. economy which is based on food and agriculture (i.e.…”

Facing the 2020 pandemic: What does cyberbiosecurity want us to know to safeguard the future?

“…1 ]. Extending this approach, it has been suggested to start with a certain sector, such as the food and agriculture (Fd + Ag) branch, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, or laboratories [ 21 , 23 , 34 , 35 ], and assess the risks relative to that particular industry or discipline.…”

“…The Trojan horse depicts cyber-enabled attack potentials, based on officially looking hoaxes and frauds ( Table 2 ) or subvertable safeguarding mechanisms. Weak or non-existent deterrent and enforcement measures and the lack of standards and guidelines [ 11 , 22 , 34 ] are a serious issue to achieve comprehensive and international protection. …”

“…Weak or non-existent deterrent and enforcement measures and the lack of standards and guidelines [ 11 , 22 , 34 ] are a serious issue to achieve comprehensive and international protection.…”

“…Parameters like these are both highly malleable and susceptible to manipulation, which will become an even bigger concern with “smart labs” of the future [ 21 ]. In the context of food and agricultural systems, cyberphysical interconnections lead to the danger of “[m]anipulation of critical automated (computer-based) processes (e.g., thermal processing time and temperature for food safety)” and “[l]ack of ability to perform vulnerability assessment” [ 34 ].…”