An alleged “cyber attack” shut down the largest meat processing company in the world last week. Once again, the flaws in broad technology adoption, automation of food systems and centralization of food processing threatens food supply and inflating food prices.
Yet another “bad news” headline involving the meat industry. If it weren’t preceded only months ago by Klaus Schwab (head of the World Economic Forum) announcing that they are expecting a “cyber attack” – it might seem like a surprise attack or a mere coincidence. Ah, but we know better – there are no coincidences. This situation does however push the World Economic Forum’s “great reset” agenda forward. See the Ice Age Farmer’s report here.
It sets the stage for rising prices of meat products in the grocery store. We can probably expect to see people flocking to grocery stores to clear off the meat counters in the coming days and weeks. It is this sort of event that leads to panic and uncertainty. Many sectors of the food industry are run as a monopoly where there are very few players in production, processing and distribution. This is another clear example where sourcing local meat from local farmers who use small butcher shops will shield you and your family from rising prices and uncertain supply.
If this was truly an unexpected cyber attack, I’d be very surprised. I would guess that it was more of a planned shut down designed to manipulate prices (inflate) and drive up demand while forcing farm gate prices of slaughter animals downward due to over supply. This is a win-win from a monopolistic meat production industry perspective, and consequently a lose-lose situation for both the farmer(lower prices and increased feeding expenses due to delayed delivery) and the consumer (higher prices at the retail level).
Let’s just say that it was a cyber attack by “Russian Hackers”. Well, are they actually saying that by shutting down a computer system that millions of people don’t get to eat? How could a system so large that it feeds one fifth of the US population every day have such an obvious vulnerability when the World Economic Forum has been hinting of such attacks for months now. You’d think that they’d be a bit more prepared for this. It’s almost like they knew…hmmm?
Shouldn’t that be a huge red flag for food security? Wouldn’t the powers that be want to diversify meat processing through smaller decentralized abattoir facilities in local communities to ensure a safe food supply and stable prices and to reduce the impact of such an event?
The answer to food security is quite simple; Do what you can to grow your own food, connect with local farmers who produce healthy food, build a resilient, sustainable community that supports each other rather than supporting centralized food systems and global corporations. This will help you and your family stay connected to the abundance that mother nature offers us all! Enjoy.
Rick Kohut
Regenerative Farmer