b"by the bad actors, so what we learn in one aspectUniversity researchers can come alongside of agriculture can readily be applied across (theindustry to address these challenges in real-time, entire value chain). enhancing communication and developing practi-Cyberattacks targeting the food and agricul- cal solutions, Detre emphasizes.ture industry, including the seed sector, are on theUniversity of Nebraska assistant vice president rise in the United States. To address these evolv- and director of federal relations Matt Hammons ing threats, the National Food and Agriculturehighlights the importance of aligning industry, aca-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC)demia, and producers.has partnered with Iowa State University, the This partnership helps tighten communica-University of Nebraska, Purdue University, andtion between researchers and industry, ensuring Virginia Tech. This collaboration aims to pair uni- real-life relevance for research, he says. It alsoJosh Detre, Director of versity research experts with real-world industryprovides opportunities to share challenges and col- the University threats, designing solutions to protect the sector. laborate on solutions. Consortium on Health, We research threats proactively to betterHammons mentions Nebraskas initiatives likeFood and Agricultural defend the food and agriculture sector, saysthe On-Farm Research Network, which has con- Resilience.Jonathan Braley, director of the Food andnected producers with university researchers for Agriculture ISAC. Our partnerships with thesedecades.trusted universities and trade associations aim toProducers are closely aligned with the distribute better information and analysis through- University of Nebraska, and this partnership ampli-out the industry. fies that connection, allowing for more robust Braley emphasized that the partnership is cru- problem-solving and innovation, he addscial for monitoring threats and providing insights.on emerging technologies for agriculture and theProactive Threat Monitoring and Reportingseed industry. Braley highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity.Cybersecurity Urgency Managing risks to the food and agriculture Director of the University Consortium on Health,sector requires partnership across industry, aca-Food, and Agricultural Resilience Josh Detre saysdemia, and government, he says. Our universityJim Reecy, Associate that while cybersecurity in the food and agricul- partners cultivate not only research that is relevantVice President for ture sector might not receive the same attentionto our members but also open more opportuni- Research Iowa State as in the financial or healthcare sectors, it is a criti- ties to share threat intelligence from the Food andUniversity.cal area of focus. Ag-ISAC to small and medium-sized organizations. Cybersecurity in agriculture often gets over- This University Partner Program is an essential step looked, he says. This partnership allows us to col- to help defend and protect the sector.laborate with other great universities and addressBraley said the ISAC provides weekly threat the industry's real problems. intelligence reports to its partners, helping them A recent study indicates that in the last decade,stay ahead of potential attacks.there have been at least 30 major cyberattacksWe are tracking vulnerabilities across IT and on U.S. agriculture, each averaging $200 million inindustrial control systems, monitoring ransomware damages. trends, and building collaborative opportunities, The average time for a cyberattack to be real- he says. Our reports provide valuable insights for ized in the biological sector, including agriculture,industry members.is 21 days. This delay can be detrimental, makingThe ISACs reports include detailed analyses it difficult to assess and mitigate the impacts,of critical vulnerabilities, ransomware attacks, and says Feras Bartaseh, associate professor in theoperational technology risks. Jonathan Braley, Virginia Tech Department of Biological SystemsThis collaboration also allows us to share ourDirector of the Food and Engineering. findings with government agencies and trade asso- Agriculture ISAC.ciations, he adds.Bridging Academia and Industry Braley also emphasizes the importance of The partnership aims to influence research andaddressing the biological component of cyberse-development in the seed sector, focusing on high- curity in agriculture.security issues like genetic modification and cropCyberbiosecurity is unique to agriculture, resilience. impacting seeds, crops and genetics, he explains. SEPTEMBER 2024SEEDWORLD.COM /25"