Iowa State University Seed Science Center Provides Report

SSC also recognized at International Extension Forum for education-enhancing techniques for workshops

Inverness, Scotland (April 17, 2025) — Iowa State University Seed Science Center (SSC) personnel reported on research findings about cybersecurity threats faced by small-scale farmers and seed producers, and was recognized with an award for their presentation on outreach-extension innovations for expert forums at the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE) conference, an international gathering of agricultural education and extension practitioners, in Inverness, Scotland, April 14-18.

Examining cybersecurity awareness in the heartland, Dr. Lulu Rodriguez, SSC Global Programs Lead, (pictured left) and a team of researchers in the Agricultural Education and Studies Department at Iowa State University report that as American agriculture embraces the digital age, small- and medium-sized farmers are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks—but many do not see themselves as likely targets.

Researchers surveyed nearly 300 farmers across 12 Midwest states to assess their perceptions of cybersecurity threats, their personal experiences with cyberattacks, and where they turn for information on the subject. The study paints a revealing picture of a sector caught between tradition and technology.

“While larger corporate farms may seem like more obvious targets, small operations are just as vulnerable—if not more—due to limited resources and often outdated security measures, Farmers are using advanced technologies to increase productivity, but many haven’t kept up with the cybersecurity measures needed to protect these systems,” said Rodriguez, citing vulnerabilities identified in the report.

According to the data, 46.6% of respondents said they were moderately to strongly worried their farm systems might be hacked, while 36.7% believed their operations were at risk of cyberattacks. However, nearly half (45.1%) disagreed with the idea that their farms were likely targets.

This disconnect, the researchers say, underscores a dangerous blind spot as cyberattacks on small farms can serve as backdoors into larger agricultural networks, making them weak links in a much bigger chain.

In another study that assessed the educational value of a seminar-workshop on seed systems development, Rodriguez and Cindy Hicks, SSC Communications Specialist, (pictured left) outlined the measures taken to make a seminar-workshop, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last August, a more productive educational experience for policymakers, researchers, and seed systems experts from East and West Africa. Hicks and Rodriguez were recognized on the last night of the conference with the Distinguished Ideas at Work Presentation award.

"Receiving this award is a true honor. It reflects the dedication and collaboration that went into making the Addis Ababa seminar not just informative, but genuinely impactful for those working to strengthen seed systems across East and West Africa,” Hicks said. “I’m grateful to have partnered with Dr. Lulu Rodriguez on this important work and to see its value recognized by our peers at AIAEE."

The seminar-workshop on seed systems development, organized by the SSC with support from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, gathered over 70 participants from 12 countries for four days. The goals were to assess the state of seed systems in five focus countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania), share best practices in capacity building and innovation, and identify technical assistance needs and investment opportunities to advance country and regional plans in East and West Africa

“The challenge is always how to sustain momentum beyond the event,” Rodriguez explained. “We took steps to ensure this wasn’t just another seminar-workshop, but a catalyst for real, lasting change.”

These steps include launching an interactive website that functioned as a planning and learning hub before, during, and after the event. The website housed speaker materials, reference documents, and served as a feedback portal. The event also brought together government officials, regional seed system administrators, and private seed companies—entities that seldom get the chance to dialogue,” Rodriguez shared. “In this space, they began to see each other as partners, not competitors.” A group chat hosted through the WhatsApp platform kept conversations alive long after the seminar ended, allowing participants to continue sharing resources and updates in real time.

Evaluation data revealed a statistically significant increase in participants’ knowledge across core topics discussed in the seminar. More importantly, attendees returned home with customized action plans to energize their countries' seed investment strategies. “Perhaps most powerful,” Rodriguez concluded, “was the sense of shared purpose. People left knowing they’re not alone—and that together, they can transform seed systems.”

The AIAEE holds a conference each year to connect professionals in the field and foster collaboration to improve educational and extension delivery worldwide.