Key Takeaways:
- Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024 would add the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
- The legislation targets foreign farmland purchases by adversaries like China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran.
- Over 43.4 million acres of U.S. agricultural land are foreign-owned, raising concerns about national security and food security.
Bipartisan Legislative Proposal
Senator Roger Marshall and a group of bipartisan Senators have introduced the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024, a bill aimed at enhancing the oversight of foreign investments in U.S. farmland and agricultural industries. The legislation would add the Secretary of Agriculture as a permanent member of CFIUS, providing additional scrutiny on farmland acquisitions by foreign adversaries such as China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran.
Addressing Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farmland
According to the USDA, more than 43.4 million acres of U.S. agricultural land are currently owned by foreign entities. The legislation seeks to mitigate the risks posed by foreign ownership of farmland, which Senators argue could compromise food security and national security. The bill also authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to flag land transactions involving foreign adversaries to CFIUS for further review.
Senator Marshall emphasized the connection between food security and national security:
“I’ve said it over and over – food security is national security, and it’s time our federal government recognizes the threat that comes with foreign adversaries owning U.S. farm ground. This legislation goes to the heart of the issue and would require the vetting of domestic farmland purchases by dangerous nations like China, Russia, and North Korea.”
Growing Concerns Over Foreign Influence
Other Senators expressed concerns about the growing foreign ownership of American farmland and its potential risks to national infrastructure. Senator Mike Braun pointed out the sharp increase in Chinese ownership of American farmland over the past decade and the need for legislative action to prevent further foreign encroachment on U.S. soil. Senator Tommy Tuberville highlighted the importance of empowering the Secretary of Agriculture to have a seat at the table in CFIUS to address foreign threats to agricultural supply chains.
Senator Jon Tester further emphasized the risks posed by the Chinese Communist Party:
“Allowing foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party to purchase American farmland and agribusiness poses an unacceptable risk to our food security and national security. Congress needs to act, and our bipartisan bill will secure much-needed oversight to help stop bad actors who want to undermine our country.”
Key Provisions of the Bill
The Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024 would:
- Permanently include the Secretary of Agriculture in CFIUS for transactions involving agricultural land, biotech, and the transportation, storage, and processing of agricultural products.
- Authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to report foreign agricultural land transactions and relevant transactions to CFIUS for review, especially those involving adversaries like China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran.
Broad Bipartisan Support
The proposed legislation has garnered bipartisan support, with lawmakers from both sides stressing the need to protect the nation’s agricultural assets. Senators including Chuck Grassley, Tom Cotton, and Joe Manchin echoed the importance of preventing hostile foreign powers from gaining control over U.S. farmland, while Congressman Dan Newhouse stressed the urgency of adding the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS to safeguard American farmers and the agricultural industry.
As foreign ownership of U.S. farmland increases, the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024 aims to strengthen national oversight and prevent adversaries from leveraging America’s agricultural resources for their own strategic gain.
Read the entire bill here.
