Beyond Ransomware: Securing the Digital Food Chain

Susan Duncan

Renata Carneiro

Jonathan Braley

Melissa Hersh

Ford Ramsey

Randall Murch

October 1, 2021

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In May 2021, the world’s largest meat processor, JBS Foods, paid $11 million in Bitcoin to a ransomware gang known as REvil, following a cyberattack that forced JBS to halt operation in 13 of its U.S. beef processing plants. When Andre Nogueira, CEO of JBS USA, confirmed the ransom payment, he said JBS did so to mitigate damage to supply chain partners, including restaurants, grocery stores, distributors, and ranchers.

The JBS incident is the latest in a spate of ransomware attacks on major…

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About the Authors

Susan Duncan, PhD, RD, a member of IFT, is professor of food science and technology, associate director of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, and director of the Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture - Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.([email protected]).

Renata Carneiro, PhD, a member of IFT, is postdoctoral researcher, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va. ([email protected]).

Jonathan Braley is operations manager, Information Technology-Information Sharing and Analysis Center, Manassas, Va. ([email protected]).

Melissa Hersh is a risk and strategy advisor, Hersh Consulting, LLC, Washington, D.C. ([email protected]).

Ford Ramsey, PhD, is assistant professor, Dept. of Agricultural and Applied Economics, and affiliate faculty in the Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture - Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va. ([email protected]).

Randall Murch, PhD, is adjunct professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and affiliate faculty in the Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture - Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va. ([email protected]).