The FBI’s Cyber Division last week issued a statement warning of increased threats of cyber-attacks on rural cooperatives, at a time when a bizarre series of fires and explosions are causing damage to large food processing plants across the country.
“Ransomware operators may be more likely to attack agricultural cooperatives during critical planting and harvest seasons, disrupting operations, causing financial losses and adversely affecting the food supply chain,” the statement said, adding that ransomware attacks cooperatives in 2021 and early 2022 could affect the current planting season by “disrupting the supply of seeds and fertilizers”.
The FBI warned: “A major disruption in cereal production could affect the entire food chain, as cereals are not only consumed by humans but are also used for animal feed … In addition, a significant disruption in cereal and corn production could affect trade and stocks of goods. “
The FBI warning comes as “nearly two dozen food processing plants across Canada and the United States” have experienced a “series of fires, plane crashes and explosions,” according to The Western Standard.
The most recent incidents were fires at two food processing plants in Oregon. First, on Monday night, a fire destroyed the Azure Standard headquarters and storage facility. The second was an explosion at a Shearer’s Foods factory on Tuesday.
