Reintroduction of American Agricultural Security Research Act Seeks to Bolster Cyber Defenses for US Food Supply Chain

Representative Don Bacon (NE-02) has reintroduced the American Agricultural Security Research Act of 2025, a legislation aimed at bolstering cyber defenses for the nation's food supply chain and securing America's agricultural sector. The move comes in response to the growing number of cyberattacks targeting the US agri-food sector, with 40 incidents reported in the first quarter of 2024 alone. The legislation proposes to establish Centers of Excellence at higher education institutions and create a competitive USDA grant program to strengthen agricultural cybersecurity infrastructure.

Key Takeaways:

• The American Agricultural Security Research Act of 2025 addresses an urgent national security concern, with the US agri-food sector experiencing 40 cyberattack incidents in the first quarter of 2024.
• The legislation will establish Centers of Excellence at higher education institutions to research and engage in extension on topics related to cybersecurity, biosecurity, and agricultural production.
• A competitive grant program will be established within the USDA to support research, extension, and education activities that improve the capability of the United States to protect the food and agricultural system from attack or other global catastrophic threats.
• The bill aims to protect the technology and infrastructure that keeps the nation's food supply chain secure, and facilitate the increased adoption of precision agriculture technology by growers across the country.
• Stakeholders and organizations, including the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the Global Shield, and the For Country Caucus, have expressed support for the legislation.
• Representative Don Bacon has stated that the national security and the agricultural industry are inextricably linked, with only nine meals between civilization and total anarchy.

Statistics:

• 40 cyberattack incidents were reported in the US agri-food sector in the first quarter of 2024.
• The legislation proposes to establish Centers of Excellence at higher education institutions that will focus on research and extension in cybersecurity, biosecurity, and agricultural production.
• A competitive grant program will be established within the USDA to support research, extension, and education activities that improve the capability of the United States to protect the food and agricultural system from attack or other global catastrophic threats.
• The bill aims to protect the technology and infrastructure that keeps the nation's food supply chain secure.

Sources:

• "Stakeholders and organizations are applauding Representative Don Bacon (NE-02) for reintroducing H.R. 4155, the American Agricultural Security Research Act of 2025." (Office of Representative Don Bacon)
• "The American Agricultural Security Research Act addresses an urgent national security concern." (Office of Representative Don Bacon)
• "There are only nine meals between civilization and total anarchy." (Representative Don Bacon)
• "The American Agricultural Security Act protects the technology and infrastructure that keeps our nation's food supply chain secure." (Kip Eideberg, Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM))
• "Cybersecurity is national security, and AEM greatly appreciates Representative Don Bacon's leadership on legislation that will ensure the safe production, distribution, and consumption of American-grown food." (Kip Eideberg, Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM))
• "Representative Bacon's proposed American Agricultural Research Act is a critical step in ensuring that vital research is conducted to protect America's food supply from all forms of catastrophic risk." (Jared Brown, Executive Director, Global Shield)
• "America's farmers and ranchers don't feed just our country, they feed the world." (Rep. Ellzey, Co-Chair, For Country Caucus)