Another expert on the issue of supply chains, infrastructure, and national security - @JoshuaSteinman - frequently discusses the risk of covert or overt attacks on US logistics and energy infrastructure.
It also continues to be a leading concern of military/intel officials.
Hardening our infrastructure and ripping out Chinese-manufactured hardware and software from our ports, rail, roads, and air networks would be priority one if @SecretaryPete had any intention of doing his job.
The axis of the world turns upon control of four resources:
Protein
Water
Energy
Firepower
The first is the subject of this thread.
China's enormous population demands massive amounts of protein.
And a war is on for it.
1/
Christmas Eve 2013, panicked calls to logistics managers working in the grain industry began flooding in.
Without notice, China had banned the import of any corn or corn co-product that contained more than a tiny trace of Syngenta's MIR162 transgenic trait.
2/
MIR162 (trade name "Viptera") was in its first full year of mass market release, spanning many hybrids of corn.
The trait is designed to kill insects that feed on corn plants, particularly various worms and corn borers.
These insects can devastate a farmer's bottom line.
3/