Researchers call for national consortium to battle agriculture cyber threats

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Published: 2026-10-09T17:00:32.370Z • Permanent link

Washington State University researchers are teaming up with experts from other land-grant universities to push for a national consortium focused on battling agriculture cyber threats. Dr. Leslie Robinson, a WSU agricultural economist, led the effort to develop the proposal, which aims to create a collaborative research and development framework to tackle the growing issue. The move comes as concerns about the vulnerability of American agriculture to cyberattacks continue to grow, with the sector facing a multitude of threats, including data breaches, supply chain disruptions, and targeted attacks on critical infrastructure. The researchers estimate that the US agriculture sector is at risk of experiencing losses totaling over $10 billion annually due to cyber threats.

Dr. Robinson, along with her colleagues at WSU, have been working closely with other researchers from land-grant universities across the country to develop a comprehensive plan to address the issue. The proposal calls for a national consortium that would bring together experts from various fields, including cybersecurity, data analytics, and agricultural science to share knowledge, resources, and best practices. The consortium would also provide a platform for researchers to test and develop new technologies and strategies to improve the resilience of the US agriculture sector to cyber threats. The researchers are also seeking support from government agencies, industry partners, and other stakeholders to help fund the initiative.

The proposal has already gained traction, with several prominent agricultural organizations and industry groups expressing support for the initiative. The American Farm Bureau Federation, for example, has pledged its backing for the national consortium, citing the importance of addressing the growing threat of cyberattacks to the US agriculture sector. The group's president, Zippy Duvall, noted that the proposal represents a critical step towards improving the sector's cybersecurity posture and reducing the risk of losses due to cyber threats.

The proposed national consortium has significant implications for the US agriculture sector, which is a critical component of the national food system. The sector is responsible for producing over 90% of the country's food, and its resilience to cyber threats is essential to ensuring the nation's food security. The risks associated with cyber threats to agriculture are far-reaching, and can have significant impacts on the entire food supply chain, from farm to table. Companies such as Monsanto, DuPont Pioneer, and Cargill, which are major players in the agricultural industry, are already investing heavily in cybersecurity measures to protect their operations from cyber threats.

The proposed national consortium also has significant implications for the research community, which is critical to developing new technologies and strategies to improve the resilience of the US agriculture sector to cyber threats. The consortium would provide a platform for researchers to collaborate and share knowledge, which is essential to advancing the state of the art in cybersecurity and data analytics. The researchers are also seeking to engage with industry partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure that the consortium is responsive to the needs of the sector and that its initiatives are aligned with national priorities.

The proposed national consortium is part of a larger trend towards increased awareness and concern about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyber threats. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, including power grids, transportation systems, and healthcare networks. The US government has responded to these threats by launching initiatives such as the National Cybersecurity Alliance, which aims to educate the public about cybersecurity risks and promote best practices for protecting against cyber threats.