Agriculture’s Role In Safeguarding The Nation

By Karn Dhingra

Food and agriculture shape the stability of nations, economies and communities. Shannon Norris Parish ’20, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, is working with the military to see how these systems are also essential to national defense and security.

Parish studies how agricultural literacy and social science contribute to national defense by influencing conflict, stability and long-term resilience. Agricultural literacy goes beyond knowing where food comes from.

According to the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, agricultural literacy includes understanding who produces food and how agriculture shapes the economy, environment, technology and daily life, as well as its connection to livestock.

Parish’s work — developed for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and emergency response teams — applies those insights to real world challenges. It helps military planners, first responders and communities strengthen food systems that are more resilient and secure, both locally and globally.

Parish sat down with AgriLife Today to discuss her research and why food systems enhance modern security and defense strategies, and why agricultural literacy matters more than ever.