2
Based on the given scenario the critical infrastructure sector that is being attacked is
the
Food and Agriculture Sector. The antiterrorism activities of spraying herbicides to the irrigation
systems decreased the agricultural sector's growth and production. The farmers could experience
loss because they could not harvest as they usually do. Therefore, the mortality of plants would
make farmers restless since they have invested more in their farms and would complain to farm
agencies about terrorist activities.
The sector-specific agency or agencies that are most likely to respond to the event
described in the scenario are the Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Human Services. These
agencies oversee the critical infrastructure of the Food and Agricultural Sector. For instance, the
health agency ensures the well-being of Americans by advising individuals on the best medicines
they can use to improve the health of their plants. Likewise, human services protect the condition
and welfare of Americans and ensure resilience when calamities arise in their people (CISA,
n.d.).
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is ahead of the pack to ensure that the food
Americans eat, and their agricultural supplies are safe. An attack on the food supply, whether
from intentional tampering or due to contagious animal disease and chemicals, could be
dangerous to human health and cause long-lasting economic impacts. DHS provides food
defense to Americans by ensuring resiliency across the American Food and Agricultural Sector.
Also, it improves the economic security of the private sector in the US economy (Homeland
Security. (n.d.).
