Chinese agroterrorism is a major threat flying under the radar in the United States, especially post-COVID-19, according to a former DHS official. The arrests of two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a crop-killing fungus into the U.S. have raised alarms about the potential for foreign adversaries to target the nation’s food supply, which is vital to its agricultural economy. Kristofor Healey, a former DHS official and current investigator, warned that agroterrorism could cause severe disruptions by attacking crops like wheat and barley, which are crucial to the U.S. food chain and economy.
In light of the arrests of two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a crop-killing fungus across the border, one expert warns that agroterrorism from foreign adversaries could cause a