House Again Passes Bill to Increase Scrutiny of Foreign Land Ownership – DTN Progressive Farmer

Report on Foreign Agricultural Land Ownership and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Overview of Foreign Land Ownership in the United States

The recent bill targets land ownership by Chinese companies and entities from countries including Iran, North Korea, and Russia. According to the USDA report dated December 23, 2023, Chinese companies reported owning 277,336 acres of agricultural land in the United States.

Major Chinese Agricultural Landholders

1. Murphy Brown LLC (Smithfield Foods): 89,218 acres
2. Brazos Highland Properties LP: 86,994 acres
3. Murphy Brown of Missouri (Smithfield/WH Holdings): 43,091 acres
4. Harvest Texas, LLC: 29,705 acres
5. U.S. Agri Chemicals Corp: 11,263 acres

These five companies collectively account for 94% of all Chinese-owned agricultural land in the U.S.

Geographical Distribution of Chinese-Owned Land

• Texas: 123,708 acres
• North Carolina: 44,263 acres
• Missouri: 42,905 acres
• Utah: 33,035 acres
• Florida: 12,798 acres

These five states represent 93% of Chinese-owned acreage, with Texas notably having significant land tied to wind-energy investments.

Concerns and Regulatory Responses

• In 2021, Fufeng Group’s attempt to purchase approximately 300 acres near Grand Forks, North Dakota Air Force Base raised national security concerns.
• The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviewed but declined jurisdiction over the project.
• U.S. Air Force leaders urged state and local authorities to cancel the purchase.
• Several states have since enacted stricter laws to limit Chinese ownership of farmland.

Broader Foreign Ownership of Agricultural and Forestry Land

• Texas: 5.6 million acres foreign-owned
• Maine: 3.5 million acres foreign-owned
• Colorado: 2.5 million acres foreign-owned

Canadian investors hold approximately 15.3 million acres (33% of all foreign-owned land), followed by investors from the Netherlands (11%), Italy (6%), the United Kingdom (6%), and Germany (5%).

Policy Initiatives and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Alignment

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – Ensuring responsible land ownership supports sustainable agriculture and food security.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – Protecting agricultural land from foreign control helps maintain biodiversity and sustainable land use.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – Regulatory measures enhance national security and promote transparent governance.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – Chinese land ownership linked to wind-energy investments in Texas contributes to renewable energy goals.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has indicated that the administration is exploring further restrictions on the sale of farmland to Chinese entities to safeguard national interests and promote sustainable development.

Additional Resources

USDA annual reports on foreign land ownership can be accessed at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/economic-policy-analysis/afida/annual-reports

Contact Information

For further inquiries, contact Chris Clayton at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com or follow on social platform X @ChrisClaytonDTN.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article discusses agricultural land ownership, which is directly related to food production and security.
2. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Issues of land ownership and management impact sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and land resources.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
   • Concerns about foreign ownership of land, national security, and regulatory actions reflect governance and institutional integrity.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • International investments and cross-border land ownership involve global partnerships and economic cooperation.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers.
   • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices.
2. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods.
   • Target 15.9: Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.11: Significantly increase the exports of developing countries, including through improved trade policies.
   • Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Land Ownership Data
   • Acres of agricultural land owned by foreign entities, specifically Chinese companies, as reported by USDA.
   • Changes in acreage over time (e.g., reduction from 346,915 acres in 2022 to 277,336 acres in 2023).
2. Geographical Distribution
   • State-wise distribution of foreign-owned land (Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, Utah, Florida).
3. Regulatory Actions
   • Legislative measures and restrictions on foreign land ownership as indicators of governance and institutional response.
4. Foreign Investment Composition
   • Proportion of land owned by investors from different countries (Canada, Netherlands, Italy, UK, Germany).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: dtnpf.com