Covert Biological Weapons Attacks Against Agricultural Targets: Assessing the Impact Against US Agriculture

Terrorism and Political Violence

Volumn 13, Issue 3, 2001, Pages 61-82

  Cameron, Gavin ^a   Pate, Jason ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0035561712     PISSN: 09546553     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/09546550109609690     Document Type: Review

References (67)

1. Although Aum was not the first sub-national group to use a chemical or biological agent, the group's acquisition and use of sarin and VX nerve agents, thought to be restricted to state-level CW programs, was unprecedented.
2. 'The Threat of Biological Terrorism to US Agriculture', United States Department of Agriculture, undated.
3. Statement by Floyd P. Horn, Administrator, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture before the United States Senate Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee (27 Oct. 1999) p.5.
4. Ibid.
5. See .
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. David Ruppe, 'Battle Over Plum Island', ABCNews.com (20 Jan. 2000).
12. Steve Goldstein, "Agroterror' Fears Awake; US Crops Seen as Vulnerable', The Arizona Republic (26 June 2000) p.A12; and 'Experts Warn of 'Agroterrorism' Threat', Associated Press (2 Dec. 1999).
13. Steve Goldstein, "Agroterror' Fears Awake; US Crops Seen as Vulnerable', The Arizona Republic (26 June 2000) p.A12; and 'Experts Warn of 'Agroterrorism' Threat', Associated Press (2 Dec. 1999).
14. First Annual Report to the President and The Congress of the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction, I: Assessing the Threat (15 Dec. 1999) p. 12, available at (accessed on 23 June 2000).
15. Statement by Floyd P. Horn, Administrator, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture before the United States Senate Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee (27 Oct. 1999) p.3.
16. The Monterey Institute WMD Terrorism Database is an open-source collection of incidents involving sub-national actors and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials, 1900-present. The Database is available by subscription to qualifying organizations. For more information, contact Jason Pate at jpate@miis.edu.
17. Seth Carus, 'Bioterrorism and Biocrimes: The Illicit Use of Biological Agents in the 20th Century', National Defense University Working Paper (Aug. 1998; March 1999 revision) p.73.
18. 'Poison Is Suspected in Death of 30 Cows On a Muslim Farm', The New York Times (16 March 1970) p.30; James Wooton, 'Black Muslims Would Sell Farm to Klan', The New York Times (17 March 1970) p.32; 'Wallace Seeking More Policemen', The New York Times (12 Dec. 1971)p.50.
19. 'Poison Is Suspected in Death of 30 Cows On a Muslim Farm', The New York Times (16 March 1970) p.30; James Wooton, 'Black Muslims Would Sell Farm to Klan', The New York Times (17 March 1970) p.32; 'Wallace Seeking More Policemen', The New York Times (12 Dec. 1971)p.50.
20. 'Poison Is Suspected in Death of 30 Cows On a Muslim Farm', The New York Times (16 March 1970) p.30; James Wooton, 'Black Muslims Would Sell Farm to Klan', The New York Times (17 March 1970) p.32; 'Wallace Seeking More Policemen', The New York Times (12 Dec. 1971)p.50.
21. Joseph Douglass Jr. and Neil C. Livingstone, America the Vulnerable: The Threat of Chemical and Biological Warfare (Lexington: Lexington Books, 1987) cited in Ron Purver, Chemical and Biological Terrorism: The Threat According to the Open Literature (Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Unclassified, June 1995) pp.87-8; Yonah Alexander, 'Will Terrorists Use Chemical Weapons? ' JINSA Security Affairs (June-July 1990) p. 10, cited in Purver, op. cit. pp.87-8.
22. Joseph Douglass Jr. and Neil C. Livingstone, America the Vulnerable: The Threat of Chemical and Biological Warfare (Lexington: Lexington Books, 1987) cited in Ron Purver, Chemical and Biological Terrorism: The Threat According to the Open Literature (Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Unclassified, June 1995) pp.87-8; Yonah Alexander, 'Will Terrorists Use Chemical Weapons? ' JINSA Security Affairs (June-July 1990) p. 10, cited in Purver, op. cit. pp.87-8.
23. Joseph Douglass Jr. and Neil C. Livingstone, America the Vulnerable: The Threat of Chemical and Biological Warfare (Lexington: Lexington Books, 1987) cited in Ron Purver, Chemical and Biological Terrorism: The Threat According to the Open Literature (Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Unclassified, June 1995) pp.87-8; Yonah Alexander, 'Will Terrorists Use Chemical Weapons? ' JINSA Security Affairs (June-July 1990) p. 10, cited in Purver, op. cit. pp.87-8.
24. 'Counterfeit stamps put on diseased eggs', Ha'Aretz (23 May 2000), available at http://www3.haaretz.co.it/eng/scripts/print.asp?id=78775 (accessed on 23 June 2000); 'Warnings of contaminated eggs being sold with official stamp', Israel Wire (26 May 2000), available at (accessed on 23 June 2000); 'Woman dies from salmonella', Israel Wire (13 Sept 1999), available at (accessed on 23 June 2000).
25. 'Counterfeit stamps put on diseased eggs', Ha'Aretz (23 May 2000), available at http://www3.haaretz.co.it/eng/scripts/print.asp?id=78775 (accessed on 23 June 2000); 'Warnings of contaminated eggs being sold with official stamp', Israel Wire (26 May 2000), available at (accessed on 23 June 2000); 'Woman dies from salmonella', Israel Wire (13 Sept 1999), available at (accessed on 23 June 2000).
26. 'Counterfeit stamps put on diseased eggs', Ha'Aretz (23 May 2000), available at http://www3.haaretz.co.it/eng/scripts/print.asp?id=78775 (accessed on 23 June 2000); 'Warnings of contaminated eggs being sold with official stamp', Israel Wire (26 May 2000), available at (accessed on 23 June 2000); 'Woman dies from salmonella', Israel Wire (13 Sept 1999), available at (accessed on 23 June 2000).
27. The RAND-St Andrews Terrorism Chronology: Chemical/Biological Incidents 1968-1995.
28. Ibid.
29. Ibid.
30. Shabatai Zvi (translator), 'Israeli Settlers Destroy 17,000 Tons of Grapes', Al-Ayyam (23 Oct. 1997), available at (accessed on 17 Feb. 2000):
31. 'Settlers pump sewerage water into Palestinian groves', Palestine Information Network (21 June 2000), available at (accessed on 21 June 2000). Also available from, Palestine Times at (accessed on 5 July 2000).
32. 'Settlers pump sewerage water into Palestinian groves', Palestine Information Network (21 June 2000), available at (accessed on 21 June 2000). Also available from, Palestine Times at (accessed on 5 July 2000).
33. The RAND-St Andrews Terrorism Chronology (note 20).
34. Carus (note 16).
35. Purver (note 18) p.35; Tony Duboudin, 'Murderer in court over virus threat', The Times (22 Feb. 1984) p.5; Reuters (5 Dec. 1984).
36. Purver (note 18) p.35; Tony Duboudin, 'Murderer in court over virus threat', The Times (22 Feb. 1984) p.5; Reuters (5 Dec. 1984).
37. Purver (note 18) p.35; Tony Duboudin, 'Murderer in court over virus threat', The Times (22 Feb. 1984) p.5; Reuters (5 Dec. 1984).
38. 'The Poisoned World - 1998', University Sains Malaysia (1998), available at (accessed on 29 March 1999).
39. Gretchen Schuldt, 'Man indicted on charges of tainting animal feed Berlin plant contaminated with toxic pesticide in 1996', Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (15 Sept. 1999) p.1; Richard P. Jones, 'Product Recalled in Four States; Animal Feed Tainted in Act of Sabotage', Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (4 Jan. 1997) p.1. 'MDA Investigates Possible Feed Contamination', PR Newswire (6 Jan. 1997).
40. Gretchen Schuldt, 'Man indicted on charges of tainting animal feed Berlin plant contaminated with toxic pesticide in 1996', Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (15 Sept. 1999) p.1; Richard P. Jones, 'Product Recalled in Four States; Animal Feed Tainted in Act of Sabotage', Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (4 Jan. 1997) p.1. 'MDA Investigates Possible Feed Contamination', PR Newswire (6 Jan. 1997).
41. Gretchen Schuldt, 'Man indicted on charges of tainting animal feed Berlin plant contaminated with toxic pesticide in 1996', Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (15 Sept. 1999) p.1; Richard P. Jones, 'Product Recalled in Four States; Animal Feed Tainted in Act of Sabotage', Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (4 Jan. 1997) p.1. 'MDA Investigates Possible Feed Contamination', PR Newswire (6 Jan. 1997).
42. Shyam Bhatla Naxos and Leonard Dayla, 'Poison bomber offers secrets for sanctuary', The Observer (28 Sept. 1997), available at (accessed on 21 May 1998).
43. 'Quebec's largest food distributor removes S. African fruit', Reuters (11 July 1986); Michael Babad, 'Threats halt sales of S. African fruit at Canadian stores', United Press (15 July 1986); Michael Babad, 'Canadian stores stop selling South African fruit', United Press (16 July 1986).
44. 'Quebec's largest food distributor removes S. African fruit', Reuters (11 July 1986); Michael Babad, 'Threats halt sales of S. African fruit at Canadian stores', United Press (15 July 1986); Michael Babad, 'Canadian stores stop selling South African fruit', United Press (16 July 1986).
45. 'Quebec's largest food distributor removes S. African fruit', Reuters (11 July 1986); Michael Babad, 'Threats halt sales of S. African fruit at Canadian stores', United Press (15 July 1986); Michael Babad, 'Canadian stores stop selling South African fruit', United Press (16 July 1986).
46. 'Rail car graffiti not linked to shadowy group (David Organization)', Canadian Press Newswire (7 Nov. 1994).
47. 'Banan Fits', Urban Legends Reference Pages: Toxin du jour (Banana Fits), available at (accessed on 27 July 2000); 'False Internet Report about Bananas' (National Center for Infectious Diseases), available at (accessed on 31 May 2000); 'E-mail at UC Riverside Helped Spread Hoax About Bananas', Los Angeles Times (16 Feb. 2000) p.A18.
48. 'Banan Fits', Urban Legends Reference Pages: Toxin du jour (Banana Fits), available at (accessed on 27 July 2000); 'False Internet Report about Bananas' (National Center for Infectious Diseases), available at (accessed on 31 May 2000); 'E-mail at UC Riverside Helped Spread Hoax About Bananas', Los Angeles Times (16 Feb. 2000) p.A18.
49. 'Banan Fits', Urban Legends Reference Pages: Toxin du jour (Banana Fits), available at (accessed on 27 July 2000); 'False Internet Report about Bananas' (National Center for Infectious Diseases), available at (accessed on 31 May 2000); 'E-mail at UC Riverside Helped Spread Hoax About Bananas', Los Angeles Times (16 Feb. 2000) p.A18.
50. John Johnson, 'Female Medfly Found in Sun Valley Close to Area Targeted Earlier', Los Angeles Times (4 Jan. 1990) p.B3; Ashley Dunn, 'Officials Advertise to Contact Mystery Group Claiming Medfly Releases', Los Angeles Times (10 Feb. 1990) p.B3; Stephanie Chavez and Richard Simon, 'Mystery Letter Puts a Strange Twist on Latest Medfly Crisis', Los Angeles Times (3 Dec. 1988) p.B 1 (Orange County Edition);
51. John Johnson, 'Female Medfly Found in Sun Valley Close to Area Targeted Earlier', Los Angeles Times (4 Jan. 1990) p.B3; Ashley Dunn, 'Officials Advertise to Contact Mystery Group Claiming Medfly Releases', Los Angeles Times (10 Feb. 1990) p.B3; Stephanie Chavez and Richard Simon, 'Mystery Letter Puts a Strange Twist on Latest Medfly Crisis', Los Angeles Times (3 Dec. 1988) p.B 1 (Orange County Edition);
52. John Johnson, 'Female Medfly Found in Sun Valley Close to Area Targeted Earlier', Los Angeles Times (4 Jan. 1990) p.B3; Ashley Dunn, 'Officials Advertise to Contact Mystery Group Claiming Medfly Releases', Los Angeles Times (10 Feb. 1990) p.B3; Stephanie Chavez and Richard Simon, 'Mystery Letter Puts a Strange Twist on Latest Medfly Crisis', Los Angeles Times (3 Dec. 1988) p.B 1 (Orange County Edition);
53. 'Foot and Mouth Outbreak: Special Report' BBC News Online, (accessed on 9 April 2001).
54. 'Foot-and-mouth disease: The costs and cures', Business News Special, The Economist (31 March 2001) (accessed on 2 April 2001).
55. 'Foot and Mouth Outbreak: Special Report' BBC News Online (accessed on 9 April 2001).
56. 'Foot-and-mouth disease: The costs and cures'. Business News Special, The Economist (31 March 2001) (accessed on 2 April 2001).
57. 'Gross Domestic Product by Industry data' (US Bureau of Economic Analysis) (accessed on 9April 2001).
58. 'Comparative Civilian Labor Force Statistics, Ten Countries, 1959-2000' (US Bureau of Labor Statistics) (accessed on 9 April 2001).
59. Roel Janssen, 'Swine Fever strikes', Europe 371 (Nov. 1997) p.43.
60. Dick Leonard, 'Scandals damage farmers', influence', Europe 388 (Sept. 1999) p.44; 'Wrap-Up', Chemical Week 161/35 (22 Sept. 1999) p.24.
61. Dick Leonard, 'Scandals damage farmers', influence', Europe 388 (Sept. 1999) p.44; 'Wrap-Up', Chemical Week 161/35 (22 Sept. 1999) p.24.
62. 'California Agriculture' (California Department of Farms and Agriculture) (accessed on 12 April 2001).
63. Deborah Mackenzie, 'Run, Radish, Run', New Scientist (18 December 1999) pp.36-9.
64. Jennifer Steinhauer, 'Outbreak of Virus in New York Much Broader Than Suspected', The New York Times (28 September 1999) p.A1.
65. The information in this section was obtained from and email exchanges with Jim Tippett, State Statistician for the California Department of Agriculture.
66. Corrie Brown, 'Agricultural terrorism: A cause for concern', The Monitor, 5/1-2 pp.6-8.
67. Mackenzie (note 44) pp.36-9.