There is a vast new market available for security vendors and dealers: eco-terrorism, or also known as eco-sabotage. High-profile, Fortune 100 companies, universities and research labs are primary targets of eco-terrorism, which focuses on destroying genetically modified crops by committing arson and burglary, trespassing and maliciously destroying property. Terrorist organizations have conducted these attacks and have destroyed hundreds of crops.

These concerns, as well as the safety of employees, have spurred seed companies and universities to protect themselves, using security product technology to harden themselves as targets.    ÞRise in Attacks Spurs Need for Better Security Until recently, sabotage in the name of environmental protection had limited local impact and drew minimal public attention. However, targets have grown larger, and crimes have escalated with the use of bombs and arson.Seed companies and universities have traditionally taken only minimum security postures in the past.  Heightened awareness used to be the only extra security measure these organizations would take after discussing any future attacks with their own security staffs and local law enforcement agencies. However, some companies are beginning to use some kind of hardware security. One very large research and development company recently developed technology and staffing plans for its facility of more than 75 acres. The implemented security enhancements included low-tech devices such as night-vision goggles and mobile towers for observation of crop fields at night, and an increased number of security patrols. Other high-tech and expensive safeguards employed at the facility were: fiber-optic, volumetric, fence-mounting, video motion-detection and barrier sensors, and CCTV.Helping to Deter Attacks While Making a ProfitThis enhanced security posture is a value-added cost to all security-conscious organizations. The proposed investment for the aformentioned security measures was approximately $250,000—a small price to pay to deter eco-terrorist attacks and safeguarding crops, facilities and employees.

Security vendors and dealers must realize that, until recently, these markets were dormant due to the low level of threats that existed. However, an ever-increasing focus by eco-terrorists has changed this market.

Requests for security technology and services will continue to increase. Leading-edge security vendors and dealers must grow with the demand and develop this ever-expanding niche market.                          Jesse Gonzalez is CEO and COO of Successful Negotiations Inc. in Cibolo, Texas, a security consulting firm that provides executive protection, physical security assessment and training at all levels of security providers.

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