In early 2022, NSRI and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln set out to realize their potential and fulfill their responsibility to contribute to U.S. food, agriculture and environment security. IANR’s long history of innovation and partnership with industry and producers, combined with NSRI’s UARC status and deep experience and expertise with CBRN threats, creates a unique opportunity to not only participate in conversations about some of the Nation’s most critical infrastructure but to lead needed research and development of solutions.
NSRI’s and IANR’s foresight was underscored by National Security Memorandum 16 on Strengthening the Security and Resilience of United States Food and Agriculture, signed in November 2022. Real-world events such as an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) affecting dairy cattle further emphasized the need for this focus area of research under the NSRI portfolio of work.
The partners joined conversations with federal government agencies such as the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They convened 60 NU researchers through a launch workshop, and 32 NSRI Fellows formed a working group, which led a discussion at the 2024 NSRI Fellows Conference.
NSRI, IANR and additional NU partners aim to help the Nation’s food and agriculture sector become more resilient to future threats through a whole-ofsociety approach that addresses direct and indirect effects of security-related incidents. Addressing the indirect effects, such as geopolitical and socioeconomic impacts, may also help stakeholders identify and provide resiliency solutions beyond threats to the food and agriculture sector.
