A new report found that foreign ownership of US land – including buyers from rival countries such as China, Russia and Iran – has increased by 40% since 2016, with some land near military bases
US officials issued national security warnings as at least 40 million acres of US farmland, pastures and forests appear to be owned by foreign investors. A new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that foreign ownership of US land – including buyers from rival countries such as China, Russia and Iran – has increased by 40% since 2016, with some plots close to on military bases.
According to a report by the daily mail, in addition to concern for espionagethe integrity of America’s food supply chains is at risk.
However, these estimates could only be the tip of the iceberg, as the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which commissioned the report, told the DailyMail that US officials do not have “reliable” data on landowners.
The Ministry of Agriculture hides the data concerning foreign investors
Government Accountability Office (GAO) findings revealed that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) collects required data on forms but “does not share data relevant to foreign investors in a timely manner”
For example, the GAO noted that the $85 million purchase of U.S. agricultural land by Chinese billionaire Chen Tianqiao has caused an outcry since it has not been declared for 8 years. Kimberly Gianopoulos, chairwoman of the GAO, said: “Recent reports about Chen Tianqiao owning 200,000 acres of farmland do not appear to be accounted for in the Department of Agriculture figures.”
The new congressional analysis has sparked outrage among Democrats and Republicans, who have called on the Biden administration to limit purchases “from adversaries” to shore up America’s defense.
Democratic Sen. Jon Tester said: “As we learn more about the specifics surrounding this evolving situation, Congress must take action to protect American agricultural security and prevent our foreign adversaries from controlling our nation’s food supply and gaining access to on land near military bases’.
Republican Representative Dan Newhouse expressed his outrage after the GAO’s findings were released. “This report confirms one of our worst fears: that not only is the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) unable to answer the question of who owns what land and where, but that there is no plan by the department to reverse internally this dangerous flaw that affects our supply chain and economy.”
“Food security is national security and we cannot allow foreign adversaries to affect our food supply,” he added.
Most land claims are in Texas
While 40 million acres is only a small amount of the 1.3 billion acres of private land in the U.S., the report by GAO warned that the data were sparse and unreliable.
More specifically, China-based investors and companies own farmland in 28 states, amounting to a total of 186,823 hectares, according to an agriculture ministry report that includes data through 2022 – the most recent available.
Companies own more than $2 billion worth of farmland in the U.S., up from just $162 million a decade ago, according to the latest USDA figures.
The most land claims are in Texas with 192,000 acres, followed by 49,000 acres in North Carolina and Missouri, and Utah with 34,000.
Figures available from the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) showed that 131,000 acres in Val Verde County, Texas are owned by a China-based billionaire.
Local brokers told the DailyMail in September that David Frankens, of Lufkin, East Texas, sold the land to Sun Guangxina former Chinese army captain, for about $110 million between 2016 and 2018 to set up a wind farm himself.
Former CIA officials said the Chinese billionaire could be considered a national security risk by US authorities because of his extensive ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The data from his report USDAreleased last month, show that investors from 99 countries have a claim on US land.
The list includes the Republic of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela.
In total, the investors of these rival nations own about 95,000 acres of agricultural land.
- They are four Cuban-based investors who own 858 acres in the US in three states and Puerto Rico.
- The Russian Federation consists of four investors who own 73 hectares in four states
- and North Korea includes 32 investors who bought 4,839 acres, according to the USDA report.
- In total, 22 investors based in Iran own 2,463 acres
- and the 100 Venezuelan investors own 28,218 acres.
In 2022, Chinese chemical maker Fufeng Group bought 300 acres of farmland in North Dakota — 20 minutes from the Grand Forks Air Force Base that hosts military drones.
USDA’s congressional report says Canadian investors own most of America’s farmland held by foreigners with 12.8 million acres.
North American countries are followed by investors from:
- the Netherlands (4.9 million acres),
- Italy (2.7 million acres),
- the United Kingdom (2.5 million acres)
- and Germany (2.3 million acres).
The total 40.8 million acres cover agricultural and non-agricultural land.
Forest land accounted for 47% of all foreign land, cropland accounted for 29%, and pasture and other agricultural land 22%.
Non-agricultural land (such as housing and roads) accounted for 2%.
Source :Skai
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
