Securing the feed and food supply chain in the event of Biological and Agro-terrorism (BAT) incidents - The German SiLeBAT Project

The project SiLeBAT elaborates practical solutions to secure food supplies for the general population in the event of a biological and agri-terroristic (BAT) damage scenario. The research focus is laid on the operability of the affected food commodity chain. Solutions for prevention, early detection and damage containment will be developed. The project examines BAT damage scenarios, which jeopardise the health of the general population through the contamination of food or indirectly through the infection of livestock. This could for instance happen through the intentional contamination of agricultural products in the field of feed production. As an example for a corresponding scenario, an attack on the "meat and milk commodity chain" is studied. The "commodity chain" starts with the import of feed components and leads through the production of feeds, the rearing of the animals, the slaughtering and processing to the distribution of the finished meat and dairy products to the retail trade. In the event of a biological or agri-terroristic attack on this commodity chain it would be necessary to include all steps of the chain into the damage analyses and the development of management options. Effective and co-ordinated acting of all those involved in crisis management is only possible if there is a secured availability of comprehensive and valid technical information. Therefore the structuring and making available of technical information is an essential component of the approach developed by the research network. This includes, amongst others, the following topics: epidemiology and tenacity of agents, availability and effectiveness of detection procedures, detection limits, sample preparation methods, decontamination processes, handling rules, recommendations for handling and management procedures etc. Furthermore, computer-based procedures to analyse commodity flows and assess risks and crisis management options will be developed (e.g. cost/benefit analyses). Technical information, which is not or only incompletely available, is elaborated and / or updated within the framework of the project. Another goal is to elaborate a solution which makes all resources developed and released within the project available to those parties involved in case of need through a specially designed, secured and extendable information platform. In parallel, a practising and training concept is elaborated and implemented in an exemplary manner.