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Chinese spies steal our seeds. Iranian hackers target our water systems. Foreign companies own our food producers. Rural America is on the front lines of economic warfare.
Food Security is National Security
The US food system's very efficiency—anchored in just-in-time delivery, concentrated infrastructure, and foreign input reliance—has made it profoundly fragile. Agriculture is no longer just an economic domain; it's a battlespace.
China feeds 20% of the world's population with less than 10% of arable land. American agricultural technology and data represent strategic assets they're actively trying to acquire—by theft or by purchase.
Stealing proprietary seeds and algorithms lets China skip decades of research investment—Mo Hailong targeted seeds worth 5-8 years of development.
With limited farmland, China needs American agricultural technology to feed 1.4 billion people. Your innovations are their shortcut.
Knowing what America grows, where, and how much gives China leverage in trade negotiations and commodity markets.
Chinese companies have purchased farmland near 19 US military installations—the Air Force called one a 'significant threat to national security.'
Agricultural threats fall into three main categories. Select one to understand the specific risks and what you can do to protect your operation.
Chinese nationals have spent years stealing proprietary corn seeds, farming algorithms, and agricultural trade secrets from American companies.
Rural water systems, electric cooperatives, and grain elevators are under active attack from Iranian, Russian, and Chinese hackers.
Your equipment collects data 24/7—even when off. This information has strategic value to foreign adversaries seeking food security intelligence.
These aren't theoretical threats. These are documented cases of foreign actors targeting American agriculture.
Iowa, 2007-2016
Caught on his knees in an Iowa cornfield, this Chinese national led a five-year conspiracy to steal proprietary seeds from DuPont and Monsanto.
2013
China's WH Group acquired America's largest pork producer—now 26% of US pork production is Chinese-owned.
Pennsylvania, November 2023
Iranian hackers took control of a water booster station serving rural Pennsylvania, leaving a message: 'Down with Israel.'
Iowa, September 2021
Hackers demanded $5.9 million during harvest season, threatening feed schedules for 11 million animals.
Understanding threats is the first step. Here's how to take action to secure your farm, cooperative, or agricultural business.
The single most important step—Iranian attacks succeeded because systems had default or no passwords.
Check if your equipment, seeds, or chemicals come from Chinese-owned companies.
Understand what data your equipment collects and who has access.
Contact the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
Answer a few questions about your operation to get personalized security recommendations and identify your biggest risks.
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