Farming has entered a new era—one where tractors drive themselves, irrigation systems respond to real-time weather data, and AI models predict yields and pest outbreaks with uncanny accuracy.
But as the agricultural sector leans deeper into digital transformation, a new set of risks is emerging: cyber threats. These aren’t just IT problems—they’re operational risks that can halt production, impact food safety, or even compromise financial stability.
From GPS-guided equipment to automated feeding systems, many on-farm technologies are now connected to the internet, making them vulnerable to hacking, malware, or data breaches. Imagine a ransomware attack locking a farmer out of their irrigation systems during a heatwave, or a data breach exposing sensitive yield forecasts that give competitors an unfair edge. These are not far-off scenarios—they’re already happening around the world. T-ISAC has ranked the agricultural sector as the seventh most targeted industry in the USA for ransomware attacks.
On July 19, 2024, a global IT outage occurred due to a faulty CrowdStrike software update, causing widespread disruption across airline companies, the financial sector, shipping and logistics operators, and healthcare services worldwide (Reuters, 2024). According to Forbes (2024), multiple airlines reported over 46,000 delays and more than 5,000 cancellations. The estimated cost of the disruption ranged between $1 billion and $10 billion globally. Delta Air Lines, a US-based carrier, reported a cost of $500 million, including lost revenue and compensation (Sky News, 2024).
Another interesting event was the GPS outage on May 10, 2024, triggered by a massive geomagnetic storm. While people worldwide marvelled at the spectacular auroras and lightning displays, the storm disrupted GPS signals, causing issues with tractor navigation and delays in planting (University of Illinois, FarmDoc Daily, 2024). These delays resulted in yield penalties, costing American farmers an estimated $500 million.
Closer to home, the Transnet ransomware attack in July 2021 forced South African port authorities to revert to manual systems, creating severe truck backlogs and port delays (Moneyweb, 2021).
Farmers must now ask: What cyber risks exist in my operations? How vulnerable are my systems? And what would the impact be if they failed? As a brokerage that understands both agri operations and the evolving risk landscape, we help our clients identify exposures, implement preventative strategies, and ensure that the right insurance protections are in place. Cyber risk isn’t just for banks and tech companies anymore—it’s firmly rooted in the soil of modern agriculture
To get more information on AEGIS, please visit our website at www.aegisrisk.io or get in touch with us via mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
