Agroterrorism

Agroterrorism Summit

July 29-30, 2002
Omaha, Nebraska

Agenda

The members of the MGA appointed an Agroterrorism Planning Committee in late 2001. The governors determined that there is a critical need to address the potential for, and the regional response to, an act of agricultural terrorism potentially affecting millions of acres of farm and ranch land, and thousands of livestock herds, grain elevators, and food processors in the nations heartland.

The committee, composed of state experts from a number of different fields, including officials in state departments of agriculture, public health, emergency management and homeland security, is examining the regions agricultural resources and assets, identifying potential targets and threats, and developing agroterrorism response plans. In addition, the group is working on the agenda for a regional conference.

The conference focused on issues such as state and federal surveillance capacity, the potential for combined interstate exercise programs, the feasibility of regionally-shared training facilities and the availability and capabilities of research, public health and animal health laboratory facilities facilities in the region.