As the agricultural and food sector increasingly accepts automation and the use of GPS devices, robotic systems, devices connected to the so-called With the “cloud” and AI-driven tools to increase efficiency and crop yields, cyber risks have escalated rapidly. With ransomware attacks as the primary threat, the food and agriculture sector is considered the seventh most threatened industry in the United States, just behind the financial sector.
Many of the technologies driving digital transformation in food and agriculture were designed long before cyber attacks became a serious concern, leaving critical security holes throughout the supply chain. With these systems not built to withstand modern threats, the sector has become a prime target for cybercriminals.
Cyber risk and national security threats to farms and food processing facilities are growing exponentially. Threats are evolving, becoming more complex and more severe.
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Kori Brandolini, co-founder of Railtown, a software company specializing in AI-based solutions for best practices and developer productivity, emphasizes that food production has become one of the most automated industries in the world.
“We’re seeing robotic systems that manage farms, automated livestock feeding systems and even AI-based optimization tools to improve crop yields. But all this automation brings significant cyber risk if the infrastructure leaks or if personally identifiable information is not protected permanently within the software.
A hacker could change the cattle feeding schedule or the storage temperature of perishable goods, and this could lead to huge financial losses and food shortages,” Brandolini pointed out.
Brandolini warns that failure to address the technical aspects of legacy software systems can lead to escalating costs and risks over time.
“These systems were never designed to be exposed to the Internet, but are now part of highly interconnected global networks,” he says.
If a cyber attack occurs in industrial control systems (ICS), a hacker could manipulate temperature controls or sensors, change important information such as ingredient lists and allergen labels, potentially putting customers at risk and causing significant disruption.
Companies that sell food that is at risk of spoilage are most at risk because they are more willing to pay a ransom rather than risk their products spoiling.
According to the FBI, ransomware attacks, malware, theft of data and intellectual property, and bioterrorism affecting food production and water supplies are the four key threats facing the agricultural sector.
Across the US, many large farms have been hit by cyber attacks. In the summer of 2021 – in a high-profile food industry cyber attack – JBS, the world’s largest meat producer, faced a cyber attack that forced the shutdown of all of its US beef plants, which account for nearly one-fifth of the nation’s meat supply.
In the end, JBS paid a ransom of $11 million in bitcoins to minimize potential disruption to its supply chain.
In 2022, HP Hood Dairi, the owner of Lactaid, was hit by a ransomware attack that took all of his factories offline. During the same year, US agricultural equipment manufacturer AGCO suffered a ransomware attack that halted operations and delayed tractor sales at a critical point in the planting season.
In 2023, several major food companies, including Dole, Sisco and Mondelez, faced significant cyber attacks, disrupting their operations.
Although these threats are growing, the food and agriculture industry remains underprepared. A 2019 UK government report shows the sector spends just £1,080 a year on cyber security measures, a stark contrast to the £22,050 spent by finance and insurance companies.
This trend is mirrored in the US, where cyber security is still not a priority for many farmers and producers.
According to Brandolini, these cyber attacks are not hypothetical. “The vulnerability we see in industries like food production is staggering. The legacy systems that many companies rely on today are not built to withstand the complexity and scale of modern cyber threats. “Unknown and unresolved issues within the underlying legacy software will continue to expose companies to catastrophic failure or cyber-attack,” he says.
The United States government is taking steps to address these challenges. Congress recently introduced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, which requires the Secretary of Agriculture to assess cybersecurity risks in precision agriculture and the broader food supply chain.
It also includes elements from the bipartisan Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act, including provisions for cross-sector exercises to help farmers prepare for food emergencies or disruptions.
From a technology perspective, artificial intelligence (AI) should become a key player in securing the agri-food sector from cyber threats and software vulnerabilities. With the ability to monitor, learn and respond to vulnerabilities in real-time, AI-driven platforms provide food producers with a robust tool to defend against cyber-attacks, strengthening the resilience of food systems in an increasingly connected, digitized world.
The rise of precision agriculture has transformed agriculture by incorporating advanced technology into every step of the process. Drones, often imported from China, now monitor and manage crops, while automated systems control livestock feeding, optimizing efficiency.
This technological revolution extends beyond the field, streamlining food processing and distribution to ensure smooth operations all the way to supermarket shelves.
As technology becomes more sophisticated, the agri-food sector must strengthen its defenses. From adopting AI-driven solutions to implementing basic cybersecurity hygiene practices, the future of food safety is influenced by how the industry responds to this growing threat. The consequences of inaction can be dire.
“A successful cyber attack on the food supply chain could lead to losses that are not only financial,” warns Brandolini. “If hackers disrupt food production or distribution, millions could face food shortages. This is not just about the economy – it’s about human lives.”
Source: Forbes
Source: www.agromedia.rs
