Lawmakers target China’s US land buys in 2024 farm bill

Report on Foreign Ownership of U.S. Agricultural Land

Introduction

The United States Congress is currently addressing concerns regarding foreign ownership of American agricultural land, particularly by Chinese investors. A report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has brought to light the extent of foreign-owned farmland in the nation, raising questions about national security and food sovereignty.

Extent of Foreign Ownership

According to the USDA, foreign entities and individuals own approximately 43.4 million acres of U.S. agricultural land, which accounts for 3.4% of all privately held agricultural land and nearly 2% of the total land in the United States. Chinese investors, in particular, own nearly 350,000 acres across 27 states.

Security Concerns

Some lawmakers have expressed concerns that foreign land purchases near U.S. military installations pose a security risk. In response, Congress is considering measures to restrict such acquisitions through the farm bill.

Farm Bill and National Security

The farm bill, renewed approximately every five years, is crucial for rural states, farming livelihoods, and agricultural practices. The current bill, titled the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024, includes provisions to limit foreign adversaries from purchasing U.S. farmland.

1. Annual Review: The bill mandates an annual review by the Secretary of Agriculture to assess the threat posed by China to the U.S. agriculture industry.
2. Dependency Assessment: A section introduced by Rep. Ashley Hinson requires an assessment of U.S. dependency on critical agricultural products or inputs that China could potentially exploit.

Actions Against Chinese Land Purchases

In recent years, there have been instances where Chinese-owned companies’ attempts to purchase U.S. farmland were halted due to security concerns. For example, a project in Grand Forks, North Dakota was stopped due to its proximity to a military base.

Despite these efforts, Chinese entities still hold a significant portion of foreign-owned agricultural land in the U.S., with the largest footprint belonging to the parent company of Smithfield Foods.

Legislative Measures

Last year, the Senate passed an amendment in the defense bill to ban adversaries like China from acquiring new farmland; however, it was not included in the final version passed by Congress.

Conclusion

The issue of foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land, especially by China, remains a concern for lawmakers. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), emphasize the importance of food security and sustainable land use. As such, Congress’s efforts to address these concerns align with the global commitment to achieving these SDGs.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

The article addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Specific Targets Under the SDGs

Based on the article’s content, the following targets can be identified:

• Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
• Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
• Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.

Indicators in the Article

The article implies certain indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets, such as:

• Indicator for Target 2.4: The proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture.
• Indicator for Target 12.2: The material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP.
• Indicator for Target 16.5: The existence of legal frameworks regarding foreign ownership of land and annual reviews of threats posed by foreign entities to national security in relation to agriculture.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: newsnationnow.com

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