At a recent House Agriculture Committee hearing, members from both sides of the aisle expressed deep concern about China's influence on U.S. agriculture. With China's increasing ownership of U.S. farmland, potential threats to food security and farmers' competitiveness are a focus of discussion.
Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) highlighted the multifaceted threat posed by China, including intellectual property theft, cybersecurity breaches, and strategic acquisitions of U.S. farmland. China's alarming rate of purchases of U.S. farmland raises red flags for national security and the resilience of rural communities.
The hearings come in the wake of increased scrutiny of foreign land ownership in the United States, with states such as Arkansas and Texas already restricting access to land by foreign companies, particularly those with ties to China. measures are being taken to limit The concern is that its proximity to military operations and critical infrastructure could pose significant risks.
Although China owns less than 1% of foreign-owned U.S. farmland, its rapidly growing holdings have drawn national attention. Over the past decade, Chinese-owned land has increased five-fold due to major acquisitions such as China-based WH Group's acquisition of Smithfield Foods in 2013.
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The challenge for lawmakers is balancing national security concerns with the economic realities of agricultural trade. China is the largest export market for U.S. food and agricultural products, and disruption to trade relations could have a devastating impact on U.S. producers. Soybean Association President Josh Gackle highlighted the irreplaceable demand for soybeans in China and highlighted the delicate trade-off between safety measures and maintaining export markets.
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Efforts are underway to diversify export markets and reduce dependence on China, but the process will be slow and unlikely to fully offset potential losses. The urgency of addressing these issues is clear as the United States navigates the complex challenges of protecting its agricultural sector while maintaining its position in global markets.
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This article Silent invasion: Is China's tightening grip on US farmland a threat to food security?originally appeared on his Benzinga.com
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