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GIS Applications in AgroBiosecurity

Agriculture is playing an increasingly important role in Homeland Security efforts. Plant and animal disease outbreaks cost the agricultural community billions of dollars, wreck havoc on agricultural trade, can potentially transfer to humans, and can disrupt the food supply. These factors make the agricultural sector increasingly vulnerable to terrorist activities. There is a real and growing danger that these disease vectors will be used in direct and intentional attacks against the food and fiber sector and potentially against humans directly. GIS technologies are currently being implemented to mitigate both unintentional and intentional risk with the US Department of Agriculture leading the charge. It is USDA’s mission to protect and promote the Food and Fiber sector but cannot succeed without partnerships with other Federal Agencies, State and Local Government, Academia, and Private Industry. The presentation will summarize the Agro-Biosecurity situation, discuss ways to leverage USDA activities, and demonstrate how GIS technologies pay a key role.