Protecting Our Food System from Intentional Attack

John Shutske, Professor and Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Specialist
Ruth Rasmussen, Research Fellow
Michele Schermann, Research Fellow
Debra Olson, Center for Public Health Education and Outreach and School of Public Health

Funding Source

Centers for Disease Control; University of Minnesota Center for Public Health Preparedness; Center for Public Health Education and Outreach; and School of Public Health

Objective

Provide research-based awareness education and emergency planning workshop sessions for local officials, health professionals, and leaders interested in protecting our food supply from “farm to table.”

Need or Impact

The agricultural and food system has been identified by many experts as one of our most vulnerable to “terrorist” attacks. In addition, the agricultural system is often heavily impacted by both manmade and natural disasters. We have developed and presented workshops for public health agencies, extension educators, law enforcement personnel, and food producers and processors on best practices to prevent and prepare for food-system emergency events. This work has led to additional collaboration with the State Departments of Public Safety and Agriculture, and a grant from the CDC to conduct six planning workshops in 2004.

Status

Ongoing.