COVERT BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS ATTACKS AGAINST AGRICULTURAL TARGETS - ASSESSING THE IMPACT AGAINST U.S. AGRICULTURE. IN: COUNTERING TERRORISM - DIMENSIONS OF PREPAREDNESS

This chapter defines agricultural terrorism and notes that the term agroterrorism is commonly used in the literature. Next, it explores the history of agroterrorism and tries to assign the terrorist events that have occurred in the past to various categories based on motive. The chapter goes on to describe outbreaks that have occurred naturally, to ascertain the impact that disease may have on agriculture. It then examines the diversity of agriculture in the United States and notes the feasibility of attacks on regional crops, in an attempt to determine the vulnerability of the agricultural economy in the United States to biological weapons terrorist attacks. The chapter also tries to quantify and qualify the costs of a terrorist attack on agriculture and government steps to prevent or prepare for such an attack.

• Corporate Authors:

  Harvard University

  Kennedy School of Government, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
  79 JF Kennedy Street
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02138
• Authors:
  • Pate, J
  • Cameron, G
• Publication Date: 2003

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 195-218
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Harvard University
  • Publisher: Harvard University

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Agriculture; Biological and chemical weapons; Biological materials; Costs; Countermeasures; Crops; Disaster preparedness; History; National security; Prevention; Regions; Terrorism
• Uncontrolled Terms: Agroterrorism; Vulnerability
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Finance; Highways; History; Marine Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00988786
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 3 2005 12:00AM