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Beef group joins discussion to prevent agroterrorism in the U.S. |
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By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas |
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March 14, 2002 -- Since Sept. 11, Americans realize the risk of bioterrorism in the United States is real. National and state leaders are working to reduce the risk, including leaders within the U.S. food and ag production industries. A panel of beef experts gathered at the recent International Livestock Congress (ILC) in Houston to discuss what has happened, what is happening, and what measures should be taken to make sure the nation's food supply is, and stays, safe. "This issue certainly is of concern to all parts of the beef production chain, from the producer to the supermarket to the fast food chain to the consumer. While it's a very real threat, the United States, also, has some of the most stringent and most sophisticated safety guidelines in place to ensure such a threat will not reach the consumer," said Dr. Gary Smith, program chairman and professor at Colorado State University, in a press release from the ILC. In a presentation to the Food Safety Council Meeting at the ILC, Dr. Scott Brooks, quality assurance specialist from Irvine, Calif., said there are four major points to terrorism: threats which includes bombs, chemical/biological terrorism, and agroterrorism; means of dispersal, which include air, food, water, vectors and environment; terrorist tactics, which include exterior attacks, forced entry, covert entry and insider compromise; and these equal the terrorists desired outcomes of mortality, morbidity, fear and economic ruin. Brooks said that agroterrorism could include animal or plant pathogens such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Avian Influenza, Karnal Bunt in wheat, damages to the food supply chain and economic damages. Also, there would be disease or disease vector introduction and claims of disease spread. He said that getting leadership "buy-in is critical." Knowing when and whom to call in the case of emergencies or terrorism acts was addressed as a major concern by the members of the panel. A report in the February edition of the Progressive Farmer, written by Dan Miller, said that "an attack on the United States livestock industry could cause more economic damage than the strike against the Twin Towers in New York." While chemicals and disease are definite threats to security, the threat to agriculture and the nation's food supply are right at the top of the list. Strategies suggested by a group of veterinarians to Progressive Farmer included paying attention to the health of individual animals, quarantining new animals, knowing where your animals come from and managing manure properly. On the same subject, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs issued a press release following the Sept. 11 attacks which stated, "With federal officials voicing concerns about the potential for another domestic attack, I am encouraging our agricultural producers along the border and statewide to mobilize and be on the lookout for unusual activity and strangers on their farms and ranches." Combs formed a Texas Border Food Security coalition of producer groups and associations which includes the Texas Farm Bureau, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, the Texas Cattle Feeders Association and the Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas, as well as the Texas Citrus Mutual, the Texas Produce Association and the Texas Vegetable Association, among others. She, also, reminded pesticide dealers and applicators across Texas "to review their safety procedures and to remain vigilant during this time of continued terrorist threat." In case of an "unusual" occurrence of animal diseases, Combs urges producers to call their local veterinarian and the Texas Animal Health Commission at 800-550-8242. Many, if not all, states have set up "homeland security" task forces which address problems and opportunities to be considered. According to Governor Rick Perry, Texas will be receiving almost $60 million from federal agencies to prepare for bioterrorism readiness. The money will be administered by the Texas Department of Health, and Perry believes it will help Texas become a national leader in bioterrorism readiness. "One of the keys to stopping a public health outbreak - whether of natural causes or man-made - is for health-care providers to have instant access to information. We live in a world that requires us to be prepared, be diligent and communicate better than before, " said Perry, in a recent report to The Associated Press (AP). Sen. Ken Armbrister of District 18, which includes 20 of the South Central counties, serves on the governor's task force on homeland security. (Dist. 18 includes the counties of Aransas, Austin, Bastrop, Caldwell, Calhoun, Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays, Jackson, Karnes, Lavaca, Matagorda, Refugio, Victoria and Wharton.) Armbrister said one of the major areas of change for Texas has been concerning the use of chemicals. Remembering right after Sept. 11, when even crop-dusting planes were grounded, he said these pilots have had to "re-register" in order to fly the crop-dusters, as well as file flight plans with the Federal Aviation Administration. Along the same line, agriculture producers who keep chemicals on their farms or ranches are taking more precautions to secure them, he said. With most of the hogs and beef processed outside of the state, he said the major thing those who do process Texas products are becoming more aware of is cross-contamination in mass distribution. Armbrister's major concern is for the chemical protection and use in the state. A recent AP report stated that federal investigators are examining university labs across the states to check their security. The anthrax attacks, which are still being investigated, are suspected to have originated in a U.S. lab. The reviews started in December at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston where scientists are working to develop cures for encephalitis, yellow fever, leprosy and the plague. |
