Report Says Nation’s Food
Supply Faces Terror Risk

WASHINGTON —(AP)— The United States is vulnerable to terrorism aimed at farms that produce the nation's food, scientists say.

Such an attack could easily happen, the National Research Council said in a recent report.

``It's not a matter of 'if.' It's a matter of 'when,''' said R. James Cook, a council member from Washington State University. ``While there may be a very low probability now, what about in 20 years?''

The council report said an attack on food production probably wouldn't lead to famine or malnutrition, but it could hurt public confidence in the food supply and disrupt the economy, costing millions if not billions of dollars.

The panel, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, pinpointed weaknesses in the U.S. plan of defense against bioterrorism in its report, one of the most comprehensive reviews of farm security to date.

Since last year, scientists have considered ways terrorists could spirit diseases across U.S. borders and infect cattle with mad cow disease, contaminate grain fields or spread anthrax.

Many pathogens are easily dispersed, such as foot and mouth disease, an illness that doesn't harm humans but can quickly sicken herds of pigs and cattle. An outbreak of foot and mouth occurred in Britain more than a year ago, raising concerns that the disease could appear in the United States.

The Sept. 11 hijackings and anthrax-by-mail attacks heightened scientists' worries. The panel urged U.S. officials to improve their communication with intelligence agencies, universities and farm groups to help the public cope with food and farm security threats. It also suggested the government strengthen its border inspections by adding new equipment to detect harmful bacteria and diseases.

In addition, the council is recommending that the government immediately:

— Increase its efforts to understand plant and animal diseases and how they spread.

— Establish a network of laboratories that would respond to, detect and diagnose diseases.

— Form a nationwide system to manage and collect bioterrorism information.

``Many of these efforts identified in the NAS report are already under way,'' Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said in a written statement.

Veneman said the agency had given $43 million to states and land grant universities to improve screening equipment. It also is renovating its laboratories that would handle testing of samples of suspicious materials thought to be anthrax or other diseases. This year the agency was given an additional $328 million for homeland security improvements.

Although Veneman's department commissioned the report, it had sought to withhold its release, fearing it could be used as a resource for terrorists planning to attack the nation's food supply.

The National Academies, which includes the National Academy of Sciences, compromised, removing some portions of a section that referred to specific case studies. Some classified documents were used to develop the report.

William E. Coalglazier, executive officer for the NAS, said the Academies worried that terrorists would misuse some information.

``Clearly, the Academy does not want to provide a road map for terrorists,'' Coalglazier said.

Only government officials can read the excluded details, he added.