New model for assessing agroterrorism risk in food supply chain

The $100 million project is aimed at preventing an attack on US food supply

January 2, 2013

Researchers at the Georgia Tech College of Engineering’s Industrial and Systems Engineering department (ISyE) are developing a model for assessing vulnerability in the food supply chain with an eye toward preventing intentional acts of contamination, known as “agroterrorism.” The six-year, $100 million project began in 2010 and is funded by the US Department of Homeland Security’s National Center for Food Protection and Defense. Researchers are currently using the model to examine vulnerabilities in food supply chain for liquid eggs, and early results have shown the chain could be better protected from attack through investment and adaptability in the production process.

Shane O’Halloran joined Food Engineering in November of 2012 as Digital/Online Editor. He graduated from Oberlin College in 2010, and worked as a copy editor and contributor to BleacherReport.com and ShesGameSports.com. He has also written feature articles on a freelance basis for publications in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. His areas of expertise include social media campaigns and website management. Shane produces daily news updates for www.foodengineeringmag.com and Food Engineering’s social media sites. In addition, Shane writes news articles for FE’s TechFlash e-newsletter and Food Engineering’s People and Industry section.