The tragic events of September 11, 2001 and subsequent bioterrorist anthrax attacks resulted in the realization that the U.S. food and fiber system is vulnerable to potential acts of agricultural bioterrorism. U.S. agriculture and related industries comprise approximately one-sixth of the gross domestic product, or about $1 trillion annually. And much of the food and fiber system is a ‘soft target’ and vulnerable to numerous types of potential attacks. While numerous plant diseases have the potential to reduce yield significantly, the major impact of crop-related bioterrorism would likely be the additive effects of downstream economic events resulting in the disruption of export and global trade of commodities and the erosion of consumer confidence and a fear in the safety of our food supply. While deliberate acts of agroterrorism remain a creditable concern, the introduction of equally devastating plant pathogens and pests via natural and unintentional pathways also is of high concern. Although no verifiable agroterrorism event has yet occurred in the U.S., numerous exotic pathogens and pests have been introduced through other means. Recent examples include pathogens that cause soybean rust, citrus greening, sudden oak death and insect pests such as the soybean aphid and emerald ash borer.

Securing U.S. agriculture requires the ability to identify threats and then to prevent, detect, respond to and recover from actual events. This will require considerable cooperation and collaboration among the many federal, state, and local authorities and increase research into the many aspects of the biology, epidemiology and control of pathogens and insects and invasive species. The Center for Crop Biosecurity and Invasive Plant Pests at Purdue University is dedicated to fostering such activities in Indiana.