Agroterrorism is emerging as a critical national security concern in the United States. The potential for adversaries to target the nation’s food supply—through pathogens, invasive species, or toxic substances—poses a severe threat to both economic stability and public health. Recent incidents, such as the smuggling of dangerous biological materials by Chinese nationals and the reappearance of unsolicited “mystery seed” packages from China, underscore the vulnerability of America’s agricultural sector. This risk could be exacerbated if the U.S. deepens its involvement in Israel’s conflict with Iran, a nation allied with China, potentially inviting retaliatory actions that exploit this hard-to-safeguard weakness.
The Rising Threat of Agroterrorism
Agroterrorism involves the intentional introduction of plant or animal pathogens, pests, or toxins to devastate crops, livestock, or food supply chains. Such attacks could lead to widespread economic losses, food insecurity, and public health crises. The U.S. agricultural sector, a cornerstone of the economy, is particularly vulnerable due to its scale, interconnectedness, and reliance on monoculture practices. A single outbreak of a crop-destroying pathogen, like Fusarium graminearum, a fungus recently smuggled into the U.S., could cause billions in damages, disrupt food supplies, and erode public confidence in the safety of American agriculture.
Recent events have heightened concerns. In June 2024, two Chinese nationals, Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, were charged with smuggling Fusarium graminearum, a fungus classified as a potential agroterrorism weapon, into the United States. This pathogen, which causes head blight in crops like wheat, barley, and rice, has already cost U.S. farmers an estimated $3 billion since 1990. The fungus is also toxic to humans and livestock, causing vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive issues. The defendants allegedly planned to use a University of Michigan lab to study the pathogen, raising fears of intentional misuse.
Additionally, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has warned of a resurgence of unsolicited seed packages from China, first reported in 2020 and reappearing in 2025. These packages, often mislabeled as jewelry or toys, contain unidentified seeds and, in some cases, liquid containers, posing risks of introducing invasive species or pathogens. In February 2025, a package sent to Clute, Texas, was intercepted and forwarded to the USDA for analysis, highlighting the ongoing challenge of monitoring such threats.
A Vulnerability Hard to Safeguard
The U.S. agricultural system’s complexity makes it a prime target for agroterrorism. Vast farmlands, centralized food processing, and global supply chains create multiple entry points for malicious actors. The Fusarium graminearum case illustrates how easily restricted biological materials can be smuggled—hidden in tissues or shipped inside textbooks—bypassing regulatory oversight. The USDA requires permits for importing such organisms, yet neither Jian nor Liu had applied for one, exposing gaps in enforcement.
Safeguarding against agroterrorism is inherently challenging. The U.S. lacks comprehensive monitoring of all agricultural imports, and the sheer volume of goods crossing borders daily overwhelms customs and border protection agencies. Moreover, academic institutions, like the University of Michigan, are often unaware of illicit activities by researchers until after the fact. The decentralized nature of agricultural production, spanning millions of acres and countless farms, makes it nearly impossible to secure every potential target. As former FBI supervisory special agent Jason Pack warned, a single mishap with a pathogen like Fusarium could lead to empty grocery store shelves and skyrocketing prices, disrupting supply chains nationwide.
Public awareness is also a weak link. Unsolicited seed packages, for instance, rely on individuals reporting suspicious items rather than planting or discarding them. Despite warnings from officials like Commissioner Miller to contact the USDA’s Anti-Smuggling Hotline, some recipients may unknowingly introduce invasive species by planting these seeds, amplifying the threat.
Geopolitical Tensions and the Iran-China Alliance
The threat of agroterrorism could intensify if the U.S. becomes more entangled in Israel’s conflict with Iran, particularly given Iran’s alliance with China. Iran, a key player in the Middle East, has strengthened ties with China through economic agreements and shared opposition to U.S. policies. China’s alleged involvement in agroterrorism-related incidents, such as the mystery seeds and pathogen smuggling, raises concerns about coordinated efforts to undermine U.S. interests, especially if geopolitical tensions escalate.
If the U.S. increases military or diplomatic support for Israel in a conflict with Iran, it could provoke retaliatory actions from both Iran and its allies. Agroterrorism offers a low-cost, high-impact method for adversaries to strike at America’s economic and social stability without direct military confrontation. China, with its advanced biotechnology capabilities and history of alleged infiltration of U.S. institutions, could facilitate such attacks, either directly or through proxies. The smuggling case involving Jian, who reportedly received funding from the Chinese government and had ties to the Chinese Communist Party, suggests a strategic intent that could be leveraged in a broader geopolitical strategy.
Iran’s own history of asymmetric warfare, including cyberattacks and support for proxy groups, indicates it could explore agroterrorism as a means to weaken the U.S. indirectly. A coordinated effort with China—whether through sharing biological agents or exploiting existing smuggling networks—could amplify the threat. As Representative Dan Crenshaw noted, such actions align with the Chinese concept of “unrestricted warfare,” which emphasizes non-traditional methods to exhaust adversaries.
National Security Implications
The agroterrorism threat underscores a broader vulnerability in U.S. national security: the reliance on a stable food supply. A successful attack could disrupt agricultural exports, which account for billions in revenue, and trigger domestic food shortages, leading to economic instability and public panic. The Fusarium graminearum case, described by U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. as a “grave national security concern,” highlights how foreign actors could exploit academic and research institutions to access and weaponize dangerous pathogens.
FBI Director Kash Patel has warned that the Chinese Communist Party is “working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply.” This sentiment is echoed by lawmakers like Senator Jon Ernst, who called smuggled pathogens “potential bioweapons,” and Representative John Moolenaar, who urged universities to sever ties with Chinese researchers in sensitive fields.
Challenges in Mitigation
Addressing agroterrorism requires a multifaceted approach, but solutions are fraught with difficulties. Strengthening biosecurity protocols, as urged by Commissioner Miller, involves enhancing USDA permitting processes and increasing inspections at ports of entry. However, this strains already limited resources. Collaboration between federal agencies, like the FBI and Customs and Border Protection, has proven effective in intercepting threats, but proactive detection remains a challenge.
Tighter controls on foreign researchers, particularly those from adversarial nations, are under consideration, with the Trump administration advocating for revoking visas for Chinese students with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Yet, such measures risk stifling legitimate scientific collaboration and could provoke diplomatic backlash from China, as seen in Beijing’s condemnation of U.S. visa restrictions.
Public education campaigns are critical to prevent the spread of unsolicited seeds or pathogens, but compliance relies on individual vigilance. Expanding surveillance of international mail and e-commerce platforms like Temu, implicated in seed shipments, could help, but it raises privacy and trade concerns.
Conclusion
Agroterrorism represents a growing and insidious threat to the United States, exploiting vulnerabilities in its agricultural and research systems. The recent smuggling of Fusarium graminearum and the resurgence of mystery seeds from China highlight the ease with which adversaries could disrupt the food supply. As geopolitical tensions rise, particularly with Iran and its ally China, the risk of retaliatory agroterrorism grows, especially if the U.S. deepens its involvement in Israel’s conflict with Iran. Strengthening biosecurity, enhancing international cooperation, and fostering public awareness are essential steps, but the diffuse nature of the threat makes it a persistent challenge. As Commissioner Miller emphasized, “food security is national security,” and protecting America’s agricultural backbone demands urgent and sustained action.