Possible terrorist attacks on the agricultures of the world's advanced economies receive less attention than the possibility of attacks that kill immediately. Damaged crops and sickened herds will never get as much attention or instill as much fear as an attack on a major population center. Yet the agricultural sector of advanced economies is very vulnerable. Attacks could cause severe food shortages and would certainly result in severe trade and economic disruption. While there is no evidence that the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Great Britain in 2001 was the result of terrorist activity, the economic and psychological impact of the epidemic raised the specter of terrorist attacks against agricultural economies and fears that the food supplies of nations might be vulnerable.

There have been at least a few historical examples of military attacks against crops and animals, and we know that ...