One of the largest agro-industrial companies in South Africa, Astral Foods, has confirmed that it was a victim of cyber attacks on March 16, leading to malfunctions in production and logistics. The incident impacted all business units, including meat processing, products, and feed production, requiring the company to implement emergency response plans.
The malfunctions persisted for nearly a week, causing production delays, supply disruptions, and logistic chain violations. Astral Foods reported direct losses of 20 million South African rands, around one million US dollars, affecting profitability for the current financial period ending next week. The company warned investors of significantly reduced earnings compared to expected figures.
Despite the scope of the attack, Astral Foods stated that all departments have been restored, and business is operating normally. The company assured that no confidential customer, supplier, or stakeholder information was compromised during the breach.
The type and perpetrators of the attack have not been disclosed yet. No notorious extortion groups have claimed responsibility, and Astral Foods representatives have refrained from commenting on specific details, raising concerns amid the rise in attacks on the agro-industrial sector.
In 2023 alone, the agricultural sector experienced at least 167 ransomware attacks, according to the analytical center Food and Agriculture-Isac. Attackers target these sectors due to the likelihood of ransom payments for system restoration and preventing food supply disruptions.
Recent years have seen cyber attacks affecting other major food manufacturers like JBS, Dole, Sysco, Mondelez, and even the US Department of Agriculture. Such incidents have resulted in significant industry information leaks and millions of dollars in losses, jeopardizing global food supply chain stability and food security.
While Astral Foods has managed to mitigate short-term disruptions from the attack, it highlights the critical need for agrarian corporations to be prepared for similar threats. Given the pivotal role of these enterprises in national food systems, incidents like this could have long-lasting implications for the economy.