| dc.description.abstract | The growing Biotechnology and Bio-Engineering may have by commensurate measure
contributed to bio-terrorism. This has led to stringent measures to deal with it especially,
in developed economies like the USA. Under the docket of Homeland Security, the
USA has put elaborate strategy to counter Bio-/Agro terrorism. Considering Bioterrorism is a broad area, this paper will have a bias towards Agro-terrorism. Agroproducts finally ends up on the table as food or in the selves as medicine, thus any form
of Agro-terrorism will be a huge blow to food and pharmaceutical /medical sectors. The
objective of this study is therefore to explore the past actions related to Agro-terrorism. It
will also address possible channels of exposure and our preparedness agro-terrorism.
Agroterrorism, or Agriterrorism, is a malicious attempt to disrupt or destroy the
agricultural industry and/or food supply system of a population through "the malicious
use of plant or animal pathogens to cause devastating disease in the agricultural sectors".
In the past years Kenya has suffered a number of epidemic plants and animal disease
attack. These included; coffee berry disease in the 1970s and 80s, Rift Valley fevers in
animals, Necrotic lethal maize mosaic virus, blast in rice, aflatoxins among others. Such
attacks have far reaching consequences in human health and food security. In case of
diseases (like RVF) and aflatoxins fatalities have been reported in human who consume
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products contaminated with disease pathogens. If these outbreaks were any form of act of
terrorism then, Kenya needs to increase its alertness and surveillance. This can be done
by training a team(s) of experts to contain and prevent such attacks. Methods of
execution of terrorism include dissemination (firing) of pathogens in the fields during
strives; slow introduction by agro-tourist and though food and seed imports. The current
advances in genetic engineering of various microorganisms (bacteria, phages etc) may
lead to organisms with very strong gene expression prowess that could aggravate the
problem. Inclusion of strong promotes like that of Tobacco Mosaic virus in various gene
cloning vectors may have increased the virulence of many potential pathogens. In
Kenya the regulatory bodies dealing with dangers Agro-terrorism dangers include;
KEPHIS, Directorate of Veterinary, National Biosafety Authority and other related
bodies. However, they still need to be empowered to increase their responsiveness to any
form of terrorism danger. In conclusion, Agro-terrorism, is by all means real and can be
deadly hence need to prepare for counter action. | en_US |
