Criticality Spatial Analysis (CRISTAL) Program Fact Sheet

To help mitigate the interruption of lifeline supply chains, researchers at a Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate Center of Excellence, the Food Protection and Defense Institute (FPDI), are developing new ways of identifying and understanding how and where supply chains are vulnerable to disruptions. As part of this work, research teams are also finding methods to document and assess the components of food supply chains – something that could also help meet goals of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

FPDI has developed an early prototype software tool for supply chain mapping, vulnerability assessments and analysis called Criticality Spatial Analysis (CRISTAL). Through CRISTAL, FPDI aims to develop a new capability to: (1) define and document food critical infrastructure, and (2) assess risk in the global food supply chain.