Safeguarding digital livestock farming - a comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap for dairy and poultry industries
The rapid digital transformation of dairy and poultry farming through big data analytics and Internet of Things (IoT) innovations has significantly advanced precision management of feeding, animal health, and environmental conditions. However, this digitization has simultaneously escalated cybersecu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Big Data |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdata.2025.1556157/full |
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| author | Suresh Neethirajan Suresh Neethirajan |
| author_facet | Suresh Neethirajan Suresh Neethirajan |
| author_sort | Suresh Neethirajan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The rapid digital transformation of dairy and poultry farming through big data analytics and Internet of Things (IoT) innovations has significantly advanced precision management of feeding, animal health, and environmental conditions. However, this digitization has simultaneously escalated cybersecurity vulnerabilities, presenting serious threats to economic stability, animal welfare, and food safety. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the evolving cyber threat landscape confronting digital livestock farming, examining ransomware incidents, hacktivist interference, and state-sponsored cyber intrusions. It critically assesses how compromised digital systems disrupt critical farm operations, including milking routines, feed formulations, and climate control, profoundly impacting animal health, productivity, and consumer trust. Responding to these challenges, we present a comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap that integrates established IT security practices with agriculture-specific requirements. The roadmap emphasizes advanced solutions, such as AI-driven anomaly detection, blockchain-based traceability, and integrated cybersecurity-biosecurity frameworks, tailored explicitly to safeguard livestock farming. Additionally, we highlight human-centric elements such as targeted workforce education, rural cybersecurity capacity building, and robust cross-sector collaboration as indispensable components of a resilient cybersecurity ecosystem. By synthesizing technical advancements, regulatory perspectives, and socio-economic insights, the paper proposes a proactive strategy to enhance data integrity, secure animal welfare, and reinforce food supply chains. Ultimately, we underscore that effective cybersecurity is not merely a technical consideration but foundational to ensuring the sustainable, ethical, and trustworthy advancement of livestock agriculture in a data-driven world. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7c061c76d24a4cb19fdfe8a99328d88a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2624-909X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Big Data |
| spelling | doaj-art-7c061c76d24a4cb19fdfe8a99328d88a2025-08-20T02:26:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Big Data2624-909X2025-04-01810.3389/fdata.2025.15561571556157Safeguarding digital livestock farming - a comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap for dairy and poultry industriesSuresh Neethirajan0Suresh Neethirajan1Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Campus, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, CanadaFaculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, CanadaThe rapid digital transformation of dairy and poultry farming through big data analytics and Internet of Things (IoT) innovations has significantly advanced precision management of feeding, animal health, and environmental conditions. However, this digitization has simultaneously escalated cybersecurity vulnerabilities, presenting serious threats to economic stability, animal welfare, and food safety. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the evolving cyber threat landscape confronting digital livestock farming, examining ransomware incidents, hacktivist interference, and state-sponsored cyber intrusions. It critically assesses how compromised digital systems disrupt critical farm operations, including milking routines, feed formulations, and climate control, profoundly impacting animal health, productivity, and consumer trust. Responding to these challenges, we present a comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap that integrates established IT security practices with agriculture-specific requirements. The roadmap emphasizes advanced solutions, such as AI-driven anomaly detection, blockchain-based traceability, and integrated cybersecurity-biosecurity frameworks, tailored explicitly to safeguard livestock farming. Additionally, we highlight human-centric elements such as targeted workforce education, rural cybersecurity capacity building, and robust cross-sector collaboration as indispensable components of a resilient cybersecurity ecosystem. By synthesizing technical advancements, regulatory perspectives, and socio-economic insights, the paper proposes a proactive strategy to enhance data integrity, secure animal welfare, and reinforce food supply chains. Ultimately, we underscore that effective cybersecurity is not merely a technical consideration but foundational to ensuring the sustainable, ethical, and trustworthy advancement of livestock agriculture in a data-driven world.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdata.2025.1556157/fullcybersecuritydigital livestock farmingbig dataInternet of Things (IoT)AI-driven analyticsblockchain |
| spellingShingle | Suresh Neethirajan Suresh Neethirajan Safeguarding digital livestock farming - a comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap for dairy and poultry industries Frontiers in Big Data cybersecurity digital livestock farming big data Internet of Things (IoT) AI-driven analytics blockchain |
| title | Safeguarding digital livestock farming - a comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap for dairy and poultry industries |
| title_full | Safeguarding digital livestock farming - a comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap for dairy and poultry industries |
| title_fullStr | Safeguarding digital livestock farming - a comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap for dairy and poultry industries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Safeguarding digital livestock farming - a comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap for dairy and poultry industries |
| title_short | Safeguarding digital livestock farming - a comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap for dairy and poultry industries |
| title_sort | safeguarding digital livestock farming a comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap for dairy and poultry industries |
| topic | cybersecurity digital livestock farming big data Internet of Things (IoT) AI-driven analytics blockchain |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdata.2025.1556157/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sureshneethirajan safeguardingdigitallivestockfarmingacomprehensivecybersecurityroadmapfordairyandpoultryindustries AT sureshneethirajan safeguardingdigitallivestockfarmingacomprehensivecybersecurityroadmapfordairyandpoultryindustries |