Ag Security Coalition

Each center will deploy a convergent interdisciplinary research approach that brings together scientists in the agriculture disciplines with computer scientists and engineers focused on cybersecurity. Cybersecurity experts will work with agricultural scientists to assess cyber vulnerabilities in the entire food value and then develop secure IoT-based networks that can collect data, in real-time, for monitoring, analytics, and decision making. Solutions will not be solely technical; creating opportunities for effective communication and collaboration through governance, policy, data privacy and regulatory structures is also necessary. Each center will also have a strong social science component that will examine the ethical, legal, social, an economic dimensions of cybersecurity.

Aside from strengthening formal degree and course offerings, each center will develop curricula, online training modules, and other education materials to build and strengthen the cybersecurity workforce. In particular, the centers will develop an interdisciplinary graduate certificate program that will cater to students, industry professionals, and other stakeholders across the country.

Each Cybersecurity Center will serve companies, organizations, and other agriculture constituencies offering training sessions that will enhance cyberattack readiness, response, and recovery through attack defense simulation exercises. Outreach activities will include, but will not be limited to, hosting workshops and hands-on training sessions to assist companies, organizations, and farmer-groups to understand how people within and outside their environment access and use sensitive data to generate trust.