SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Alabama A&M University President Daniel K. Wims made history last week when he became the first A&M president to testify before Congress, appearing before the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology during its hearing, “Surveying the Threat of Agroterrorism: Perspectives on Food, Agriculture, and Veterinary Defense.”
Wims, introduced by Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Dale Strong (R-AL), addressed members including Ranking Member Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS). He urged Congress to strengthen funding and research to protect America’s food supply, warning that vulnerabilities in farming, processing, and distribution could be exploited by adversaries.
Defining Agroterrorism
Agroterrorism refers to the deliberate introduction of plant or animal diseases with the intent to undermine a nation’s food security or economy. Wims highlighted that the U.S. food and agriculture industry contributes more than $1.5 trillion to GDP, making it both vital and vulnerable.
He cited the devastating 2001 outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in England, which forced the destruction of more than four million animals across 9,000 farms and cost the U.K. billions of dollars. “A similar outbreak in the U.S. could cost taxpayers as much as $106 billion today,” Wims warned.
AAMU’s Role
Wims underscored Alabama A&M’s leadership in researching foodborne pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella, developing rapid detection systems, and training farmers through the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES). He stressed the need to merge agricultural sciences with artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to defend the nation’s food infrastructure.
Joining Wims on the expert panel were Cris Young, professor of practice at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine; Marty Vanier, director of the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center at Kansas State University; and Asha M. George, executive director of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense. Collectively, they called for expanded research, stronger partnerships, and long-term federal investment.
Closing Appeal
“Farm Security is National Security,” Wims said in closing, pledging that Alabama A&M stands ready to partner with federal agencies, industry, and academic institutions to secure America’s food supply.