Cybersecurity and resiliency in agricultural and food systems

Cyberattacks are escalating across the agrifood sector, one of 16 critical national infrastructures designated by the US Department of Homeland Security. Based on a workshop series involving more than 150 stakeholders, we propose the implementation of a consortium led by regional land-grant universities with expertise in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, outlining a roadmap for comprehensive responses to current and emerging agrifood cyber risks. These include redoubling efforts in agriculture cybersecurity research, education and workforce development; creating agrifood security testbeds; performing cyber threat mitigation activities, including using artificial-intelligence-driven tools for anomaly detection, intrusion response and secure equipment assembly; establishing an Agriculture Security Operations Center; and collaborating with non-university stakeholders.