Economic, Social and Environmental Impacts of Agroterrorism

1. Economic, Social and Environmental Impacts of Agroterrorism

2. Terminal Learning Objective: At the conclusion of this session, participants will recognize contributions of agriculture and related businesses to the economic and social well being of the nation, state and local community; types of ag-related businesses specific to the local community; definitions of agroterrorism, bioterrorism, biosecurity and agrosecurity; reasons why livestock and crop diseases could pose a significant risk; categories of disease threats; and potential first responders within the local community. Enabling Objectives: 1.1 State how agriculture and related businesses contribute to the economic and social well being 1.2 Identify types of ag-related businesses specific to the local community 1.3 Define agroterrorism, bioterrorism, biosecurity and agrosecurity 1.4 Discuss reasons why livestock and crop diseases could pose a significant risk 1.5 Define categories of disease threats 1.6 Identify potential first responders within the local community. Slide 1-A

3. Objectives for Participants: • To recognize the contributions of agriculture and ag-related businesses to the economic and social well-being of the nation, state and local community. • To identify types of ag-related businesses specific to the local community. • To define agroterrorism, bioterrorism, biosecurity and agrosecurity. Slide 2

4. Objectives for Participants: • To recognize why livestock and crop diseases could pose a significant risk. • To recognize categories of disease threats. • To identify potential first responders within the local community. Slide 3

5. What Agriculture Means to the U.S. • Agriculture is America’s largest industry • $100-billion-plus livestock and poultry industry • $100-billion-plus crop industry • About 18% of all American jobs • 13% of the nation’s gross domestic product Slide 4

6. Importance to the Economy • The U.S. produces more food than any other nation in the world, and we are the world’s largest exporter of agricultural products. Export sales of about $51 billion annually Slide 5

7. Importance of Food and Fiber In two-thirds of Georgia’s counties, Agriculture represents either the largest or second largest part of the county’s economy. Source: “The Economic Importance of Food and Fiber to Georgia’s Rural Economy” Slide 6

8. Georgia’s Farm Gate Values - 2004 • Poultry & Eggs = $4.8 billion • Row & Forage Crops = $1.5 billion • Livestock & Aquaculture = $1.3 billion • Vegetables = $725.3 million • Other (crop insurance, leases, etc.) = $700 million • Ornamental Horticulture = $646.9 million • Forestry & Products = $607.9 million • Fruits & Nuts = $227.4 million • Ag-based and Nature-based Tourism = $62.4 million Total Farm Gate Value = $10.3 billion Farm gate value = value of production on the farm (value as it leaves the farm) Source: 2004 Farm Gate Value Report, Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development The University of Georgia Slide 7

9. What Agriculture Means to Our Area Slide 8

10. Potential Crisis “Agriculture is the soft underbelly of the American economy. It’s an absolutely vital sector, but it’s terribly difficult to protect.” Peter Probst, retired CIA official October 4, 2001 Slide 9

11. Agroterrorism Any criminal act that: • Introduces hazards to plant, animal, and human health • Erodes public confidence in U.S. food supply and safety • Damages agricultural commerce and economy, including international trade • Causes social unrest Slide 10

12. What is Bioterrorism? • The use of biological agents, such as pathogenic organisms or agricultural pests, for terrorist purposes. • Viruses • Bacteria • Fungi • Protozoa • Parasites and/or vectors • Prions • Biological toxins • Broader than just agriculture Slide 11

13. Why Use Livestock or Crop Diseases? • Agents are EASY to introduce • No need for weaponization - EASE of transmission • Perpetrator safety • Agents are widely available Slide 13

14. Categories of the Disease Threats • Natural – Diseases that occur naturally or that are endemic in an area. Deer with (CWD) Chronic Wasting Disease • American deer population is at risk from a variety of diseases and overpopulation – including CWD. • Deer could be instrumental in the spread of diseases like Foot- and-Mouth and Bovine Tuberculosis. • Deer may serve as a disease reservoir. • Deer population is growing in some areas at >20% per year despite hunting. Currently CWD is not in Georgia Slide 14

15. Categories of the Disease Threats Accidental – Diseases that are introduced by accidental activities. New York City’s Central Park • For the 1st time in more than 100 years there are wild turkeys in Central Park, NY. • Raccoon hunters in Virginia illegally imported raccoons with rabies from Florida. • Raccoons are a natural predator of turkeys. • As the raccoon population has dropped, the turkey population has expanded. • * Rabies was an accidental introduction in this case. • This may be a good accident for turkeys, but a bad one for raccoons. Also, there may be other unintended consequences not yet known. Slide 15

16. Categories of the Disease Threats Intentional – Diseases that are introduced into an area or population purposely. Documents confiscated from caves in Afghanistan Slide 16

17. For Activity 1 Slide 17

18. Preparation Is Key Regardless of the origin of the threat, agricultural & food representatives, veterinarians, public health workers and traditional first responders will be required to rapidly and effectively resolve the situation before catastrophic consequences occur. Slide 18

19. Economic Losses from Recent Agricultural Disease Events United Kingdom 2001 Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak $20 – $50 billion 10 million animals destroyed Political destabilization Slide 19

20. Potential FMD Disease Spread After a simulated terrorist attack at 5 locations: Day 17 21 22 2 10 18 16 15 14 13 20 8 9 7 19 12 11 1 23 6 5 3 4 30 40 States Infected: 30 39 38 35 37 15 19 33 27 23 5 12 Day 5 Disease First Detected Slide 20 Even if a national “Stop Movement” of all susceptible animals is ordered on Day 8, by the time the disease is eradicated the nation would still lose 23.6 million animals! Potential Impact:

21. Economic Losses from Recent Agricultural Disease Events Taiwan – 1998 Foot-and-Mouth Disease >$10 billion in losses 6 million animals destroyed Australia – 1999 Exotic Newcastle Disease ~$2 billion in losses Slide 21

22. Social Impact • Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the UK • 175,000 farmers out of work permanently • Numerous suicides • Mental anguish • Unemployment Slide 22

23. Environmental Consequences • Disposal of carcasses • Burial/burning • Rendering X Slide 23

24. Can You Find Five Mistakes In This Picture? Training is Critical to Success and Safety Slide 24

25. An Example of How NOT to Conduct Ag Disease Response Operations • Not wearing protective mask • Poor depopulation approach • Failure to wear protection over boots • Inadequate disposal site preparation • Area decontamination conducted during depopulation process NOTE: If your attention to detail regarding personal protective equipment is poor, then most likely other key aspects of your response sequence are equally poor. Slide 25

26. Our next Pandemic • 1918-19 Spanish Flu killed 20-50 million • Avian Flu • Cost several $100 M to industry so far • Killed 46 human victims to date • More virulent than Spanish Flu • CDC thinks it is likely to mutate and spread from human to human Slide 26

27. Our next Pandemic “A pandemic of Bird Flu is imminent.” WHO (2/23/05) Slide 27

28. food continuum A new Environment to People Environment (air, water & soil) Human beings (health & well-being) Farm Transportation Points of Potential Terrorism Points of Contamination Processing Transportation Borders Warehousing Retail Markets Domestic Tables Transportation International Markets International Tables Farm to Table Source: UCD/WIFSS Slide 28

29. food continuum A new Environment to People Environment (wildlife, air, water & soil) Human beings (health & well-being) Farm Transportation Points of Potential Terrorism Points of Contamination Processing Transportation Borders Warehousing Retail Markets Domestic Tables Transportation International Markets International Tables • Intentional harm within the system will likely be detected by: • Employees in the system (e.g. farmers/processing plant workers) • Extension Agents • Veterinarians • Police, EMS, Fire • Public health workers • Regulators • Diagnostic laboratory personnel • Physicians • Hospital/clinical personnel • Public---consumers • Institutional workers, e.g. employees in schools, municipalities Farm to Table Frontline Response Personnel Source: UCD/WIFSS Slide 29

30. Agrosecurity Mascot Slide 30

31. Reference List For More Information: See Your Textbooks – Protecting Georgia’s Agriculture and Food – Agrosecurity. Chapter 1. Protecting America’s Agriculture and Food – Agrosecurity. Chapter 3. Slide 31