Partnership aims to protect US food supply

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have formed a new partnership with states and private industry to guard the US food supply against terrorist threats.

Dubbed the Strategic Partnership Program Agroterrorism (SPPA) Initiative, the partnership supports President Bush’s requirements for the government to work closely with states and industry to protect the nation’s food supply. Announced at the Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council meeting, four pilot visits will be conducted in September and October 2005. These visits will evaluate and identify vulnerabilities in the agriculture and food sectors.

In the next year, federal and state officials will travel to all 50 states to meet with all food chain sectors. The partners will discuss security issues from farm-to-table and consider ways to better guard the US food supply.