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The US Department of Agriculture announces multi-angle effort to secure national food supply for defence security and eliminate interference from adversarial nations.
The US government has announced a National Farm Security Action Plan to reclaim crucial farmland that is held by foreign adversaries and presents a future security risk.
The plan will reportedly focus on the US Department of Agriculture working with state and congressional partners to end direct or indirect purchase or control of American farmland by nationals from countries of concern such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
“The first (action item) of the seven (in the security action plan) is securing and protecting American farmland ownership, actively engaging at every level of government to take swift legislative and executive action to ban the purchase of American farmland by Chinese nationals and other foreign adversaries,” US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said.
More than 265,000 acres of agricultural land in the United States is allegedly owned by interests associated with the People’s Republic of China, according to information published by the US Department of Defense.
In addition, the National Farm Security Action Plan is concerned about the proximity of US military installations to farmland purchased by investors associated with adversarial foreign governments.
“As someone who’s charged with leading the Defense Department, I want to know who owns the land around our bases and strategic bases, and getting an understanding of why foreign entities, foreign companies, foreign individuals, might be buying up land around those bases,” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.
“That’s something I should be paying attention to, on behalf of the American people, on behalf of my department and on behalf of the president.”
“We would be asleep at the wheel if we were not fully a party to an effort like (the National Farm Security Action Plan) to ensure that our nation had the food supply it needs, but specifically our troops have what they need on our bases, so that in those moments, you can rely on us here in the United States to provide that security.
“No longer can foreign adversaries assume we’re not watching and we’re not paying attention and we’re not doing something about it … because we are.
“At the Department of Defense, we care about homeland security … Energy security, food security, (and) water security is national security. And so when you look at our bases here in the United States or around the world, we ought to know who owns that land around strategic bases. Where are they from? Are they Americans, and if not, why?
“Your (Department of Agriculture action) plan helps us address that … We’re excited to partner with you. Thank you for your leadership. Anything we can do, let us know, and this is all part of securing America and American citizens and putting America first; it’s common sense for us.”
