Agri-Food Cybersecurity

Canada’s farmland covers 6.3% of the nation’s land, with the agri-food sector contributing approximately 7% of Canada’s GDP. As technological advancements drive efficiency and innovation in agriculture, the sector also becomes increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats such as data breaches, ransomware, and operational disruptions.  

The Cyber Science Lab (CSL), based at the University of Guelph, is dedicated to enhancing the security of Canada’s agricultural systems. By addressing emerging risks and offering practical solutions, CSL helps protect the critical infrastructure that supports the nation’s food supply. 

To further assist the industry, CSL has developed a customized GPT to provide advice on agri-tech-related queries. 

Dairy Industry  

The dairy industry is a vital component of Canada’s agricultural sector, providing essential products and contributing significantly to the national economy. However, as dairy operations increasingly rely on digital technologies for production and management, they become targets for various cybersecurity threats. Common attacks in this sector include ransomware, phishing, and breaches targeting operational technology (OT) and sensitive data. 

To help dairy producers enhance their security posture, we provide the following resources: 

• Self-Assessment Form – A customizable tool to evaluate and strengthen your cybersecurity readiness. 
• Top 10 Vulnerabilities in Dairy Farm Industry – A detailed document to help identify and mitigate the most critical security risks in the dairy sector. 
• Tabletop Exercise Framework – A practical guide for simulating cybersecurity incidents and improving response strategies. 

We encourage dairy producers to explore these resources and take proactive steps to secure their operations against emerging threats. 

Canada’s beef industry is a cornerstone of the agricultural sector, playing a significant role in food production and export. As beef production increasingly integrates advanced technologies for monitoring livestock, managing supply chains, and optimizing operations, it faces rising cybersecurity challenges. The most common threats in this sector include ransomware, supply chain attacks, and breaches targeting IoT devices used in precision livestock farming. 

To support beef producers in mitigating these risks, we offer the following resources: 

• Self-Assessment Form – A tool for beef producers to evaluate and strengthen their cybersecurity practices. 

• Top 10 Vulnerabilities in Beef Farm Centers – A resource to identify and address critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities specific to the beef sector. 

• Tabletop Exercise Framework – A guide to simulate cyber incidents and enhance preparedness for operational disruptions. 

We encourage beef producers to utilize these resources to safeguard their operations and maintain the integrity of Canada’s beef supply chain. 

Canada’s swine industry is an essential component of the agricultural landscape, contributing to food security and global trade. As the industry adopts technologies like precision farming, automated feeding systems, and advanced breeding techniques, it faces an increasing array of cybersecurity threats. These threats include ransomware attacks, data breaches, and vulnerabilities within connected devices used for monitoring animal health and optimizing production processes. 

To assist swine producers in addressing these cybersecurity concerns, we provide the following resources: 

• Self-Assessment Form– A tool for evaluating and improving cybersecurity practices within swine farming operations. 

• Top 10 Vulnerabilities in Swine Industry – A resource to help identify and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities specific to the swine industry.

• Tabletop Exercise Framework – A guide for simulating cyber incidents and enhancing readiness for operational disruptions.

We encourage swine producers to leverage these resources to bolster their cybersecurity defenses and maintain the stability of Canada’s swine supply chain. 

Aqua-culture Industry  

Canada’s aquaculture industry is a critical player in providing seafood to domestic and international markets. With the increasing use of smart technology for water quality monitoring, fish health tracking, and automated feeding systems, the industry faces growing cybersecurity challenges. Threats such as cyberattacks targeting IoT devices, data breaches, and disruptions to production systems can compromise the integrity of aquaculture operations. 

To help aquaculture producers mitigate these risks, we offer the following resources: 

• Self-Assessment Form – A tool for assessing and enhancing cybersecurity practices within aquaculture operations. 

• Top 10 Vulnerabilities in Aqua Industry – A resource to identify and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the aquaculture sector. 

• Tabletop Exercise Framework – A guide to simulate cyber incidents and improve response strategies for production disruptions.

We encourage aquaculture producers to utilize these resources to protect their operations and ensure the sustainability of Canada’s aquaculture industry. 

The Agri-Food Cybersecurity project was funded in part by the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between the Government of Ontario, Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario and the Cyber Science Lab in Canada Cyber Foundry at the University of Guelph.