Matt Lawrence, Chair

mlawrence@ses-corp.com

Mission Statement:

The mission of the IAEM-USA Food and Agriculture Ad Hoc Committee is to enhance awareness of the food and agriculture critical infrastructure. By enhancing awareness of this infrastructure, the committee intends to grow the partnerships already in place and expand collaboration among local, state and federal emergency management stakeholders; the food and agriculture sectors; non-governmental, scientific and educational organizations; and the public.

Objectives:

1. Support the development of capabilities to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from threats and hazards affecting the Nation's agriculture and food systems.
2. Monitor the development and implementation of national preparedness policy, to include response and recovery capabilities, related to food and agriculture.
3. Work to develop common food and agriculture training/planning/exercising concepts and templates that can be utilized as a tool for emergency management and food and agriculture stakeholders.
4. Work to develop a compendium of resources that would be available to emergency management and food and agriculture stakeholders.
   

Committee Documents:

• Quarterly Committee Report, Nov. 17, 2011-Mar. 31, 2012 (10 May 2012)

Committee Workgroups:

Workgroup 1: Resource Guide
Goal: Develop a comprehensive resource guide for food and agriculture professionals. The final document will follow a bibliography-style format outlining Federal, State and local programs, initiatives, plans, templates and other relevant documents.

Workgroup 2: Capability/Policy/Preparedness
Goal: Monitor the implementation of PPD-8 and other federal policy documents as it relates to the food and agriculture sector; going beyond “preparedness” and focusing on the connected activities of prevent, protect, respond, recover and mitigate.

Workgroup 3: Agriculture Impacts
Goal: Investigate the ancillary impacts on food and agriculture from sectors not traditionally associated with the food and agriculture sector, with a special focus on transportation; the retail/consumer veterinary segment; and urban agriculture.

Workgroup 4: Industry Vulnerability
Goal: Monitor the continued impact on the food and agriculture sector, from an industry viewpoint, with a special focus on assessing vulnerabilities and mitigation efforts.