The FBI’s Cyber Division issued a warning of possible cyberattacks on agri-cooperatives and food processing plants amid growing media coverage of recent fires and explosions at food processing plants in the United States.
“Ransomware actors could be more likely to attack agricultural cooperatives during critical planting and harvesting seasons, disrupting operations, causing financial losses and negatively impacting the food supply chain,” the FBI’s recent notice (pdf) reads, adding that Ransomware attacks in 2021 and early 2022 could disrupt the planting season by disrupting “seed and fertilizer supplies.”
“A significant disruption in grain production could affect the entire food chain, as grain is not only consumed by humans but is also used as animal feed,” the bureau also warned, adding that “a significant disruption in grain and corn production could disrupt commodity trade could affect and stocks.”
The FBI detailed a series of cyberattacks on food processing plants and agricultural businesses, and listed at least four separate incidents since last summer.
“In July 2021, an enterprise software company found malicious activity on its network that was later identified as HelloKitty/Five Hands ransomware. The threat actor demanded $30 million in ransom,” the agency said in one of its examples.
And last month, a multi-state grain company experienced a Lockbit 2.0 ransomware attack, the bureau wrote. The company also processes fertilizers and seeds and provides logistics for agricultural services.
“Six grain cooperatives experienced ransomware attacks between mid-September 2021 and October 2021,” the FBI said. “Various ransomware variants were used, including Conti, BlackMatter, Suncrypt, Sodinokibi, and BlackByte. Some affected companies had to stop production entirely, while others lost administrative functions.”
It comes as an increasing number of fires – and even explosions – have been reported at food processing plants across the country, according to reports that have been consistent marked during a segment on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on April 22.
On April 14, a fire destroyed a food processing plant in the agricultural center of Salinas, California, officials confirmed. City officials said at the time that an ammonia-driven explosion started the fire at the Taylor Farms processing plant.
The latest fire occurred in Georgia on Thursday when a plane crashed into a General Mills plant east of Atlanta, killing two people in the crash, officials told local media. Officials said the plane took off from a nearby airport and appeared to suffer a mechanical failure before crashing into a remote area of the facility where tractors are located.
Days earlier, a fire destroyed parts of Azure Standard’s Oregon headquarters, local media reported.
“While the HQ facility is a total loss and some product lines will be affected in the short term, other Azure Standard facilities are operating as normal as possible,” its CEO, David Stelzer, said in a statement following the fire.
Despite the increase in media coverage of the food factory fires in recent days, the National Fire Protection Association said US fire departments respond to an estimated average of 1,210 warehouse fires each year. Deliberate fires and fires caused by electrical and lighting equipment accounted for about 18 percent of all camp fires, according to the group.
The Epoch Times has contacted the FBI and the National Fire Protection Association about the fires.
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Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter at The Epoch Times, based in New York.