Agroterrorism threatens Iowa farmers and America's food supply
June 12, 2025 | Mickayla Jordan
As a world leader in agriculture, the United States has long been a target of agroterrorism. In this sector of terrorism, the weapons of choice include diseases, pests and invasive species. The target: America’s food supply.
Two Chinese nationalists were recently charged with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, making false statements and visa fraud. They were caught trying to smuggle Fusarium graminearum into the U.S. through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport in 2024 to conduct research at the University of Michigan.
While Fusarium graminearum already exists in the United States, introducing a new strain could be devastating to crops and have harmful side effects for humans and livestock. The fungus negatively affects corn, soybeans, wheat, barley and rice.
Another case of agroterrorism was documented in 2011 when another Chinese nationalist was caught attempting to dig up seed corn from Iowa fields. While this agroterrorism attack did not pose a direct threat to U.S. production, it threatened the competitiveness of American products. The theft of intellectual property, including seed genetics and agricultural technology, threatens the current advantages U.S. agriculture has in the world marketplace.
Taking a stand against agroterrorism
Considering recent agroterrorism events, U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn drafted the Preventing Lethal Agricultural and National Threats (PLANT) Act.
The PLANT Act seeks to close a critical gap in the federal law that currently requires the U.S. government to prove intent to cause harm with biological agents to seek criminal prosecution. Presently, there is no statute that addresses the possession or importation of potentially dangerous agricultural pathogens without the required United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) permit.
“The baseline [of the PLANT Act] is to make sure that if someone comes into the United States and knowingly attempts to bring something illegal and doesn’t disclose it, we can hold them accountable at a federal level,” Nunn says.
The implementation of the PLANT Act would give agencies such as the USDA and the Department of Justice (DOJ) the ability to prosecute individuals and groups associated with the illegal possession or importation of pathogens. It provides another layer of protection for farmers, the U.S. food supply and national security against potential agroterrorism threats, Nunn says.
Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Senior Director of Market Development Grant Kimberley says the bill is a step in the right direction.
“Anything we can do to protect the U.S. food supply and our technology and protect us from potential terrorism issues in agriculture could be a positive thing for us,” Kimberley says.
It’s bigger than us
Protecting U.S. agriculture isn’t just a local concern, but a national responsibility.
The U.S. provides protein sources, including soybeans and soy-fed meat products, to global partners. More than 60% of U.S. soy is exported each year, along with 30% of pork, one of soy’s largest consumers. Threats to these food supply chains impact U.S. farmers and consumers and our global customers.
“A pathogen that takes out our food would be to the effect of COVID on our food supply.” Nunn says, “And many people around the world could suffer directly.”
He expects bipartisan support once the PLANT Act is formally introduced.
“This is not a red or a blue issue, this is a national security issue,” Nunn says.
Regardless of party affiliation, the USDA and DOJ need additional resources to continue to protect farmers and our food supply.
Balancing security and collaboration
With about 20% of U.S. agricultural products being exported annually, maintaining strong relationships with trading partners is top of mind while navigating the PLANT Act.
Kimberley emphasized that the PLANT Act is designed to protect America’s farmers from threats from any nation, not specifically China. Recent agroterrorism events emphasize the importance of creating a criminal statute to protect the agriculture industry and enhance national security.
“This makes us more resilient and allows us to protect ag technology and innovation,” says Kimberley, a farmer near Maxwell. “Especially while we look to grow market access and export markets that are key to farmers’ success, including China as our largest customer.”
Written by Mickayla Jordan.
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