Securing What Feeds Us: Why Cybersecurity Matters to Agriculture with Kristin King

Cybersecurity probably isn't at the top of most farmers' priority lists—but it should be.

As agriculture becomes increasingly connected through precision technology, automated equipment, digital farm management systems, connected facilities and complex food supply chains, the potential impact of a cyberattack is growing right along with it.

In this episode of The Impact Farming Show, Tracy sits down with Kristin King, author of Securing What Feeds Us and an expert in OT/ICS security and risk management for food and agriculture.

Kristin explains why agriculture is becoming an increasingly important target for cyber threats, shares real-world examples of attacks and vulnerabilities, and discusses what farmers and agricultural businesses can do to better protect themselves.

They also explore why cybersecurity isn't getting the attention it deserves, what the industry needs to stop doing, the connection between cybersecurity and public trust, and why protecting our digital infrastructure is ultimately about protecting the food system itself.

Whether you're a small family farm, a large agricultural operation or part of the broader food system, this conversation will give you a better understanding of the risks—and some practical steps you can take to reduce them.

Episode Highlights

• Why cybersecurity is an agriculture issue, not just an IT issue

• Real-world examples of cyber threats affecting agriculture and food

• Why agriculture can be an attractive target for cybercriminals

• How increasingly connected farms create new vulnerabilities

• Why cybersecurity isn't getting the attention it deserves