Intentional introduction to the US of pests and pathogens may present substantially different issues then those of unintentional introductions. Currently, our nation has inadequate plans to deal with agricultural bioterrorism. No national publicly available interagency or inter-departmental plan is in place to deal with intentional introduction of biological agents directed at agriculture. Further, the adverse effects of bioterrorism on wildlife need to be addressed.

Important gaps in knowledge exist for foreign plant and foreign animal pests and pathogens, which affects the reliability and timeliness of risk assessments and risk management decisions.

Across US borders, the current inspection and exclusion programs are inadequate to counter the threat of agricultural bioterrorism, because only a small proportion of people and goods entering the country are inspected.

Our ability to rapidly detect and identify most plant pests and pathogens and some animal pests and pathogens is inadequate. This makes it more expensive and may make eradication impossible to achieve.

A multifocal, large-scale attack on agriculture could not be responded to or controlled properly or quickly enough, and would overwhelm existing laboratory and field resources.

Special efforts are required to support the infrastructure and prepare the nation for agricultural bioterrorism.

Improved basic understanding of the threat agents is necessary in order to develop new, and exploit emerging technologies for their rapid detection, identification, prophylaxis, and control.

[Excerpted from: Walsh et al, Agenda for Action: Executive Summary, J Vet Edu 30:92-95, 2003; Moon et al. ibid, US Agriculture is Vulnerable to Bioterrorism, J Vet Edu 30:96-104, 2003; Beaver, AVMA-AACVM Task Force on Veterinary Research and Council on Research, NAS-BANR funded study, 2004.]