Why is there a need for a network of laboratories prepared to respond to a food emergency event?

• The U.S. agriculture and food systems are vulnerable to disease, pest, or poisonous agents that occur naturally, are unintentionally introduced, or are intentionally delivered by acts of terrorism.
  
• America's agriculture and food system is an extensive, open, interconnected, diverse, and complex structure providing potential targets for terrorist attacks.
  
• The U.S. must provide the best protection possible against a successful attack on its agriculture and food system, which could have catastrophic health and economic effects.