By Sharon Omahen


University of Georgia

The U.S. food and water supply could become targets of
terrorism,
and scientists in Georgia are preparing for such attacks.

Center formed

Shortly after the events of 9/11, University of Georgia
researchers teamed up with state officials to form an
agroterrorism task force. The Georgia Emergency Management
Association, Georgia Agribusiness Council and Georgia Department
of Agriculture are partners.

Later, a joint venture between Georgia Tech Research Institute
and University of Georgia led to establishing CSAGE, the Center
for Security of Agriculture and the Environment.

“The focus of CSAGE research is to counteract the intentional
use
of pathogens and chemicals to create terror,” said Jeff Fisher,
co-director of CSAGE.

“Areas which could be targeted include areas where animals and
food are produced and distributed, fields, water supplies and the
atmosphere,” said Fisher, a professor of environmental health at
the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Not just farmers’ problem

The threat of agroterrorism isn’t a problem just for
farmers.

“If a disease was introduced into our animal populations,
plant
crops or food supply, the value of agriculture would plummet,”
Fisher said. “Our trading partners would refuse to buy from us,
and the U.S. would head into a deep recession.”

Introducing foreign animal diseases like foot-and-mouth
disease
could decimate the nation’s livestock industry. And farmers
wouldn’t suffer alone, Fisher said. Every American would feel the
pinch.

“We could lose up to $100 billion from our national economy
from
foot-and-mouth alone,” he said. “Avian influenza or Newcastle
disease, two devastating poultry diseases, would cripple the
nation’s poultry industry.”

This would be a huge blow to Georgia, which many consider the
poultry capital of the nation.

Georgia farmers constantly fight diseases and pests that pop
up
accidentally. Intentional introductions could have “a significant
and long-lasting impact on agriculture in Georgia,” he said.

Researchers at Georgia Tech are working to develop sensors
that
can detect and characterize contaminants in the food chain. “This
sensor technology could be used for field detection, warning for
food processing and laboratory analysis,” Fisher said.

Models will assess risks

UGA scientists are working on mathematical models to help
assess
the risks that attacks could pose to crops, animals and humans.
The success of these projects lies in awareness and
education.

“The extension service at UGA will be used to disseminate
agroterror information and educate agriculture personnel across
the state,” Fisher said. “Overall, the CSAGE plans to cover the
gamut of activities involved in countering agricultural
terrorism.”

The group would like to present a mock agroterroristic
scenario
for FBI agents, GEMA officials and others to prepare for actual
emergencies. But the group needs funding.

Fisher has applied for and hopes to get funding for the center
through the president’s homeland security program, he said.