China owns little US agricultural land
China owns little US agricultural land - World - Chinadaily.com.cn China Daily
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Fears of Chinese Land Ownership in the United States
Introduction
Fears of China buying up land in the United States have been grabbing headlines for quite a while despite the fact that China owns very little American land. This article aims to provide an overview of the situation, highlighting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) throughout.
Background
- Flannery Associates’ Land Purchases
- Speculation and Concerns
- Revelation of Land Ownership
Since 2017, a company called Flannery Associates has been buying large plots of land in an agricultural region 60 miles northeast of San Francisco near Travis Air Force Base, spending more than $800 million.
Unfamiliar with the firm, local people and some lawmakers speculated that it might be the Chinese buying the land with potential to harm US security.
However, court documents revealed recently that the land was purchased by a group of wealthy Silicon Valley investors, including the co-founders of LinkedIn and Stripe, along with other billionaire venture capitalists.
Legislative Moves
- State Legislation
- Federal Legislation
Despite the small acreage of agricultural land purchased by Chinese interests, fears and rumors of China buying up American land have prompted legislative moves from state legislatures to the federal government. By the end of May, at least 33 states had introduced some form of alien land and property bill to exclude Chinese from purchasing land or even homes, according to Asian Pacific American Justice. While some bills died, at least 12 states passed them into law.
At the federal level, the US Senate voted in late July to block businesses based in China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from purchasing farmland in the United States out of concern that Chinese entities are creating a national security risk by acquiring swaths of US farmland, with some near sensitive sites.
Extent of Chinese Land Ownership
- Review by NBC News
- Purchases in the Past Year and a Half
- Other Foreign Buyers
An extensive review by NBC News of thousands of documents filed with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed previous reports that the total amount of US agricultural land owned by Chinese interests is less than 1 percent of foreign-owned land. In total, the Chinese ownership is rather minuscule at less than 0.03 percent of total US agricultural land of 1.3 billion acres.
The review also found that very few purchases were made by Chinese buyers in the past year and a half. In purchases in 35 states reviewed by NBC News, USDA data showed 11 purchases by Chinese entities, with total acreage below 1,400 from Jan 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.
The review revealed that in the same 1 1/2-year period, most of the transactions were European wind-power companies leasing land from US farmers to build wind turbines. One Italian wind company alone disclosed 40 new leases of farmland in one rural Illinois county. That same company had leases in at least four other states.
Notable Chinese Land Purchases
- Smithfield Foods
- Syngenta Group
- Fufeng USA
Some notable purchases made by Chinese entities include 186 acres that Smithfield Foods purchased in 2022 and 2023 in Missouri and North Carolina. The company was acquired by a Chinese firm in 2013 and owns about 128,000 acres of US land.
Another China-acquired company, Syngenta Group, filed a report that it bought a total of 772 acres across Iowa, Florida, and California. However, those purchases had already been reported to the USDA when they were made under the company’s former owner, a Swiss company. Syngenta was bought by a Chinese company in 2017.
Fufeng USA, a Hong Kong company, bought 365 acres in North Dakota but didn’t disclose its purchases to the USDA until it became news. Its proximity to Grand Forks Air Force Base raised alarms in Washington. The size of the land is less than a quarter the average size of a family farm in North Dakota.
Conclusion
The review showed that roughly 3.1 percent or 400 million acres of US agricultural land is owned by foreign entities, about half of which is forest. Canadian interests rank No 1 with the ownership of about one-third of all foreign-owned agricultural land in the US.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 15: Life on Land
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The article discusses concerns about China buying up land in the United States, particularly agricultural land. This connects to SDG 2, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. It also relates to SDG 15, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, including land. Additionally, the article mentions legislative moves and concerns about national security, which are relevant to SDG 16’s goal of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production.
- SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
- SDG 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
The article highlights concerns about the impact of foreign ownership of agricultural land on food security and sustainable agriculture (SDG 2.4). It also raises questions about the conservation and sustainable use of land (SDG 15.1) and the need for legal measures to address national security risks (SDG 16.3).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, the article provides some indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
- Total amount of US agricultural land owned by Chinese interests: Less than 1 percent of foreign-owned land and less than 0.03 percent of total US agricultural land.
- Number of purchases made by Chinese entities in the past year and a half: 11 purchases with total acreage below 1,400.
- Percentage of US agricultural land owned by foreign entities: Roughly 3.1 percent or 400 million acres.
These indicators provide insights into the extent of foreign ownership of agricultural land, including Chinese ownership, and can be used to assess progress towards sustainable food production systems, conservation of land, and equal access to justice.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production. | Total amount of US agricultural land owned by Chinese interests: Less than 1 percent of foreign-owned land and less than 0.03 percent of total US agricultural land. |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. | Number of purchases made by Chinese entities in the past year and a half: 11 purchases with total acreage below 1,400. Percentage of US agricultural land owned by foreign entities: Roughly 3.1 percent or 400 million acres. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. | N/A |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: chinadaily.com.cn
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