As this new Ambrook Research article reports, members of Congress have recently introduced legislation that would prevent international investment in farmland, stoking fears about Chinese investments in particular. While internationally-based US land investment is a definite concern, the real risk to US farmland comes from within our own borders.
As our National Program Coordinator, Jordan Treakle, pointed out in this new article: “Canada, not China, is the largest foreign holder of American agricultural land by far (31% vs 1%). ‘If we look at the data on who are the leading investors in farmland, those are U.S.-based individuals and corporations,’ Treakle said.”
Ambrook also cited NFFC’s new reports in collaboration with Vermont Law School, saying:
“NFFC recently partnered with the Vermont Law School’s Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) on four reports. These look at what the researchers call land grabs — although they also apply to things like the purchase of water rights — which they define as “often corporate-led attempts to control land, water, profits, and other resources” that are “focused on maximizing profits — not increasing agricultural production or sustainably managing natural resources.” The charge, they say, is being led by Wall Street investors, pension funds, and other financiers “looking for a place to park their money.”