Agricultural Bioterroism and Food Safety Dr. I. Miley Gonzalez, Director/ Secretary New Mexico Department of Agriculture Tri-National Accord March 12, 2004

Pest/pathogen def’n Pre-EventPost-Event Event Systems analysis and new technology solutions are essential. Ag Risk Systems Model Risk Assessment Ag Intelligence Analysis Disease Tracking Decontamination Traceability: Ensuring Point of Origin, Handling Conditions, and Shipment Security Carcass Disposal Ag Security Curriculum and Education Real-Time Pest/Pathogen Detection and Surveillance Eradication High-Security Barriers to Entry Infectious Disease Research

BACKGROUND and HISTORY Briefing on critical infrastructure at the White house and Pentagon – understanding of the seriousness of the agenda. USDA team in place in 1998 – which included ARS/DIA/APHIS/FSIS

BACKGROUND and HISTORY Plumb Island and Ames visits – bio- level 3 and 4 facilities. Look at events – wheat scab, EU, US global events, Anthrax, BSE

BACKGROUND and HISTORY Discovered differences among the agencies – we had worked in educating each other about programs, procedures, protocols, etc. Began discussion with staff at Sandia in Initiative of NMDA/CAHE and NM Tech.

Priorities for NMDA Work began on plan for preparedness. Discussions with internal partners at NMSU, PSL, CAHE. Discussions at the national level. Named Mr. Jeff Witte as the first Ag Bio-Safety Director for NMDA.

Priorities for NMDA Met with Infra-guard Research Community Producers and Processing Community. Importance of today’s conference – for the future in securing our Nation’s food supply and the productive infrastructure with all our partners.

Partnerships OHS DIA FBI VDS UNM PSL CAHE NMT

Playas, New Mexico

Projected NM Tech Training Programs at Playas, NM Advanced First Responder Training Pipeline Security Suicide Bomber Prevention Local Government Official Training Food Supply Security Protective Force Transportation Security Battlefield Sensor Utilization

NMDA/CAHE Vision Ensuring the biological security of our nation’s agricultural and natural resource assets by planning and conducting research and developing complementary programming that will protect these assets from biological security breaches or threats

NMDA/CAHE Vision (Cont.) A strategically located research and training facility for applied biological research that provides an environment for examination of issues and development of policy and programs

NMDA/CAHE Vision (Cont.) Develop programs, technologies, and training modules, to monitor and manage animal and plant disease outbreaks BSE, foot and mouth, anthrax, newcastles, etc. Dengue, west nile virus, encephalitis, malaria Plant diseases and invasive species Development and testing of detection and monitoring techniques for the presence of introduced hazardous pests and pathogens

NMDA’s Role Agriculture Biosecurity System for NM in place prior to December 23, 2003 NMDA homeland security emergency response system completed in November 2003 Label reviews and feed inspections conducted to ensure compliance by producers and feed manufacturers since 1997

NMDA’s Role (cont.) Started discussion to include agriculture as part of the Homeland Security Initiative with General Annette Sobel Created the Agricultural and Biosecurity office in coordination with other NMSU entities. Jeff Witte named Biosecurity Director in November 2003 Met with Border Governors agriculture committee representatives from the U.S. and Mexico to plan border biosecurity training for March 2004

NMDA’s Role (cont.) NM Livestock Board members met with the Union Ganadera Regional de Chihuahua to evaluate computerized systems for tracking live cattle. Working with producers to implement system in 2004 AgriGard 2003: Protecting the Security of New Mexico’s Agriculture and Food Infrastructure held in December 2003 Associations with FBI and DIA

Activities after December 23, 2003 Emergency Response Team in place NM Livestock Board State Veterinarian Homeland Security Office NMDA in contact with state health laboratory Correspondence APHIS, FDA, FSIS NM Cattle Growers, Beef Council, Dairy Producers of NM State and National Media

USDA Actions Ban on all downer animals Product holding Specified Risk Material Advanced Meat Recovery Air Injection Stunning Mechanically Separated Meat

Conclusion Security Plan in Place Food Supply is Safe Working toward Minimizing Negative Economic Impact “Sound Science continues to be our guide.” USDA Secretary Ann Veneman

Acronyms APHIS- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service BSE- Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy DIA- Defense Intelligence Agency FBI- Federal Bureau of Investigation FDA- Food and Drug Administration NMDA- New Mexico Department of Agriculture NMSU- New Mexico State University USDA- United States Department of Agriculture