Policy Alternatives to Emerging Agbiotech Threats

 

Rafa Del Rosario

July 18, 2025

 

Executive Summary:

Agricultural biotechnology (“agbiotech”) is a growing concern in U.S.-China competition due to potential dual-use capabilities, new supply chain vulnerabilities, and increased Chinese geopolitical leverage. While biotechnology broadly presents security risks, agbiotech warrants particular attention because of its direct impact on food security, an integral element of national security, and a perpetual focus for China. Emerging technologies, such as CRISPR and advanced biofoundries, introduce novel threats, ranging from enhanced agroterrorism to foreign manipulation of food systems, that could disrupt societies and erode U.S. readiness. To address these threats, this report proposes the following policy alternatives:

1. Establish Seed Genomic Data Protection Policy – Seed genomic data currently lacks sufficient federal protections. Policies should be enacted to classify certain seed and plant genomic data as national security assets.
2. Evaluate Food Supply Chain Vulnerabilities – The current understanding of China’s agbiotech expansion and its impact on food supply chains (FSCs) is not well understood. Maps and other products should be created to analyze FSC dependencies and vulnerabilities.
3. Expand Agbiotech Counterintelligence (CI) – The agbiotech industry spends billions of dollars on research and development, often taking on years-long projects. Espionage aimed at agbiotech is relevant and ongoing. Agbiotech CI should be expanded to prevent threats against industry, government, and academic targets.

Protecting American agbiotech is critical for maintaining agricultural competitiveness and U.S. national security in an increasingly dynamic, technology-based era of competition.

 

Download Placemat

Download Full Research