Cybersecurity Challenges and Smart Technology Adoption in Norwegian Livestock Farming

Abstract

The importance of cybersecurity in agriculture has grown significantly due to the increasing use of technology, which brings about vulnerabilities in farm systems. This study investigates the technology usage and cyber attack susceptibility on Norwegian cow and pig farms while focusing on impacts to food production. Employing a phenomenological approach, we conducted 14 one-on-one interviews with cattle and pig farmers in Norway, complemented by two interviews with domain experts in widely-used milking robot brands for dairy farms. The findings indicate that dairy cow farms heavily rely on the milking robot for production, pig farms are highly dependent on feeding systems, while suckler cow farms have the lowest digital technology dependence. However, targeting a single farm is unlikely to cause significant consequences for the entire society. For threat actors aiming to disrupt food production on a national scale, the focus might shift towards suppliers of raw materials, machinery, data processors, and regulatory bodies for meat and dairy. Attacks at this level could have widespread implications for farms across the country, making it a critical area for future research and attention.