Many people may not realize how dependent today's food production systems and processes are on information technology

At the individual producer level, few operations exist which do not utilize GPS-driven crop production equipment, GIS mapping for efficient irrigation and chemical application, automated temperature, humidity and feeding controls in livestock barns or computer based records management. At the processor level, the increase in robotics and automation in processing lines and use of predictive analytics for scheduling and distribution are just two examples of dependence upon technology-based tools. All these tools are vulnerable to hacking and ransomware attacks, essentially putting our food safety and security in jeopardy. This project creates a framework for educating incumbent workers in rural agriculture cooperatives on data analysis and information security as well as developing a pipeline of AG-tech workers for growing industry needs. Use of short-term, flexible training options to provide training is cornerstone to the success of this project. Making upskiling and reskilling accessible to the geographically dispersed audiences of rural workforce elevates the practice of information security measures essential to minimizing disruption of operations.