Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
NewsManagementRegulatoryFood DefenseGuidelines

President Biden Signs NSM-16 to Strengthen U.S. Food Safety, Security; Highlights Climate Change, Cybersecurity

By Bailee Henderson
white house

Credit: Aaron Kittredge (aaron-kittredge-35519) via Pexels

November 15, 2022

On November 10, 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden signed the National Security Memorandum-16 (NSM-16), which aims to strengthen the security and resilience of the U.S. food supply and agricultural systems. Additionally, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner of Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas, FDA will be involved in NSM-16 by engaging with federal partners, state and local governments, the private sector, and academia to further strengthen the security and resilience of the U.S. food system.

The White House statement announcing President Biden’s signing of NSM-16 highlights the ways in which the U.S. food and agriculture sector has, in recent years, faced a range of deliberate and naturally occurring threats to its security and resilience. Such threats include:

  • A ransomware attack in June 2021 that forced one of the world’s largest meat suppliers to halt North American operations
  • The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) across the U.S. throughout 2022, affecting poultry food safety and supply
  • Threats to global food security and grain shortages caused by the Russian war in Ukraine.

Food and agriculture systems and supply chains are designated as critical infrastructure, primarily owned and operated by private sector and non-federal entities, and can be vulnerable to disruption and damage from domestic and global threats. To strengthen the security and resilience of the agrifood system, President Biden approved NSM-16. NSM-16 supersedes the 2004 Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9 (Defense of United States Agriculture and Food, HSPD-9), and provides presidential guidance to:

  • Identify and assess the threats of greatest consequence
  • Strengthen partnerships to enhance the resilience of the workforce
  • Coordinate the U.S. government to act more efficiently and effectively
  • Enhance preparedness and response.

Identifying and Assessing Threats of Greatest Consequence

The NSM outlines a process for the federal government to identify and assess threats of greatest consequence to the food and agriculture sector. The process includes redefining the way that chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats are defined in relation to the food and agriculture sector; focusing on cyber threats and the consequences of the climate crisis; enhancing threat and risk assessments, disseminating needed information with relevant federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments and private sector partners; and mandating a continuous process to assess and mitigate the risks and vulnerabilities of the food and agriculture sector.

Strengthening Partnerships to Enhance Workforce Resilience

The private sector owns and operates the majority of the food and agriculture sector and, in conjunction with SLTT officials, is generally the first line of response when an incident happens. NSM-16 sets out to strengthen the resilience of the food and agriculture workforce by refining and promoting the identification of, and guidance for, essential critical infrastructure workers in the food and agriculture sector to continue to work safely while supporting ongoing operations during high-consequence or catastrophic incidents. The guidance also supports the development, provision, and promotion of relevant education at all levels to train the existing workforce and build a pipeline of future essential workers.

Government Coordination, Enhanced Preparedness and Response

NSM-16 also positions the federal government to develop, maintain, assess, enhance, and encourage the adoption of systems and activities that will harden U.S. abilities to prepare and respond to an agricultural incident by training federal, SLTT, and private sector partners on how to prepare for and respond to threats to the food and agriculture sector; integrating federal, SLTT, private, and academic laboratories to increase testing and diagnostic surge capacity and standardizing diagnostic and reporting protocols to facilitate timely information-sharing; enhancing the National Veterinary Stockpile; and strengthening U.S. plant disease response capabilities with the National Plant Disease Recovery System.

KEYWORDS: climate change cybersecurity food safety food security NSM-16 worker safety workforce development

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Baileehendersonmay23

Bailee Henderson is the Digital Editor of Food Safety Magazine. She can be reached at hendersonb@bnpmedia.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Methods
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Food Prep/Handling
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Contamination Control
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

  • Deli Salads
    Sponsored byCorbion

    How Food Safety is Becoming the Ultimate Differentiator in Refrigerated and Prepared Foods

Popular Stories

Corporate manager talking with factory employees

Turning Resistance into Opportunity: Motivating Change in the Food Industry

Image of baby being fed infant formula

HHS Budget Request Beats Familiar Drum

Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.

Staying Compliant With FSMA

Events

June 26, 2025

How to Design and Conduct Challenge Studies for Safer Products and Longer Shelf Life

Live: June 26, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn how to conduct challenge studies for microbial spoilage and pathogen growth, including the common challenges encountered, laboratory selection, and use of predictive models.

July 15, 2025

Hygienic Design Risk Management: Industry Challenges and EHEDG Guidance

Live: July 15, 2025 at 11:00 am EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn the importance of hygienic design to ensure food safety and sanitation effectiveness.

May 11, 2026

The Food Safety Summit

Stay informed on the latest food safety trends, innovations, emerging challenges, and expert analysis. Leave the Summit with actionable insights ready to drive measurable improvements in your organization. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from experts about contamination control, food safety culture, regulations, sanitation, supply chain traceability, and so much more.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • Food Safety Matters

    Ep. 122. Dr. Markus Lipp: Food Safety, Food Security, and Climate Change

    See More
  • shrimp on a fork

    FDA Signs First-of-its-Kind Arrangement with Ecuador to Ensure Safety of Shrimp Exported to U.S.

    See More
  • global warming

    Caribbean Nations Prioritize Climate Change-Resilient Food Safety Systems

    See More
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing