Canada’s agricultural and food sector could face a rising risk of cyberattacks unless more stringent security measures are implemented, warns David Shipley, CEO of Beauceron Security. Speaking with CTV’s Your Morning, Shipley emphasized that the lack of robust cybersecurity across the food production and distribution chain creates a “big target” for potential cyber threats, particularly in an industry with narrow profit margins.
The concern follows a major security breach in 2022, where a cyberattack on Sobeys disrupted pharmacy services and payment systems. Such incidents show how consumers ultimately bear the brunt of these attacks through higher costs, which contribute to inflation.
Shipley criticized the omission of agriculture from Bill C-26—legislation introduced to strengthen cybersecurity across key industries like finance and telecommunications—and highlighted the need for agriculture to be recognized as an essential service in future cybersecurity strategies.
He pointed out that Russian-backed groups are often behind these cyberattacks, using them to fund efforts in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Shipley argued that Canada must take these threats more seriously, advocating for federal investment in cybersecurity defenses and the development of resilient agricultural technologies.
Despite recent government funding for farm technology, Shipley said more needs to be done to safeguard the systems used in food production, distribution, and retail. He stressed the need for resilient, secure systems across the entire supply chain to ensure Canada’s food industry can withstand future cyberattacks.