As of late 2023, Chinese entities own roughly 277,000 acres of U.S. agricultural land—less than 1% of all foreign-held farmland and just 0.02% of total privately held U.S. farmland. This marks a 27% drop since 2021, driven by sales, divestments, and blocked projects near military bases. Major holdings stem from WH Group’s purchase of Smithfield Foods for pork production and ChemChina’s acquisition of Syngenta for seed research, plus some renewable energy sites like wind and solar farms. Concerns focus on national security risks, such as proximity to military installations and potential food supply chain threats. Federal rules under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act require reporting, while CFIUS reviews deals and many states impose bans. In 2025, policies have strengthened with restrictions on new purchases and efforts to reduce existing ones, prioritizing security amid ongoing tensions. Though small and declining, these holdings underscore the need to balance foreign investment benefits with protecting U.S. agriculture.
Long Version
Chinese Ownership of U.S. Agricultural Land: Trends, Risks, and Regulations in 2025
In 2025, foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land continues to be a focal point of debate, especially regarding investments from Chinese entities. The most recent comprehensive data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, covering holdings through December 31, 2023, indicates that Chinese entities control approximately 277,336 acres of U.S. farmland. This amounts to less than 1% of all foreign-held agricultural land and roughly 0.02% of the total privately held U.S. agricultural land. Notably, this figure reflects a 27% decline—equivalent to a net reduction of 106,599 acres—since peak levels in 2021, attributed to divestments, sales, and halted projects, particularly those in proximity to sensitive military installations.
While the scale of these holdings remains modest, they spark ongoing discussions about potential implications for national security, food security, and the broader landscape of foreign investment in American agriculture. This article delves into the historical backdrop, current statistics, major players, land types, associated risks, and evolving regulatory measures, providing a thorough overview based on the latest available reports.
Historical Context and Key Land Acquisitions
The trajectory of Chinese investments in U.S. agricultural land gained momentum in the early 2010s, coinciding with a rise in acquisitions by entities from various foreign adversaries. Pivotal transactions include the 2013 acquisition of Smithfield Foods by Shuanghui International, later renamed WH Group, in a $4.7 billion deal that incorporated extensive farmland dedicated to pork production. This marked one of the largest takeovers of a U.S. company by a Chinese firm and involved significant cropland and pastureland for livestock operations.
In 2017, ChemChina’s $43 billion purchase of Syngenta, a leading company in agricultural research and seed development, further expanded Chinese access to U.S. forestland and cropland used for biotechnology and crop innovation. More contemporary examples, such as the Fufeng Group’s attempted development of a corn milling plant near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, exemplify speculative investments with possible dual-purpose applications. This initiative was ultimately blocked in 2023 due to concerns over its location near military bases, highlighting the intersection of land acquisition with broader security considerations.
Chinese investors have also pursued renewable energy projects, including wind energy and solar energy installations, often on pastureland or less productive cropland, sometimes linked to carbon offsets initiatives. These ventures underscore the diverse motivations behind such holdings, ranging from agricultural production to energy infrastructure.
Current Statistics and Recent Changes
As of the end of 2023, foreign-held U.S. agricultural land totals nearly 45.85 million acres, representing about 3.5% of all privately held agricultural land in the country. Chinese holdings, spread across 30 states, stand at 277,336 acres, with a year-over-year net decrease driven by 1,287 acres acquired and 15,989 acres disposed. This 27% overall dip from 2021 levels results from factors like the divestment by a prominent Chinese billionaire involved in wind and solar energy projects, alongside heightened policy restrictions that have led to blocked projects.
In terms of percentage ownership, Chinese entities account for just 0.6% of foreign-held land and a negligible 0.02% of total U.S. farmland. For context, Canada leads with over 15.3 million acres (33% of foreign holdings), followed by the Netherlands (about 5.2 million acres, 11%), Italy (2.7 million acres, 6%), the United Kingdom (2.6 million acres, 6%), and Germany (2.5 million acres, 5%). The U.S. land under Chinese control includes a mix of cropland for grains, pastureland for grazing, forestland for timber or research, and other agricultural or non-agricultural uses.
Overall foreign investment in U.S. agricultural land has grown steadily, increasing by an average of 2.6 million acres per year from 2017 to 2023, compared to 0.6 million acres annually from 2013 to 2017. This growth is largely fueled by long-term leases for renewable energy developments, such as wind farms, which have boosted cropland holdings by 146%, forestland by 60%, and pasture or other agricultural land by 32% over the decade.
Major Chinese Investors and Their Holdings
A small number of entities dominate Chinese foreign investment in U.S. agriculture, with the top five companies accounting for about 94% of reported holdings. Key players include:
- Murphy Brown LLC (associated with Smithfield Foods and WH Group): 89,218 acres, primarily in North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Utah, focused on pork production.
- Brazos Highland Properties, LP: 86,994 acres, mainly in Texas.
- Murphy Brown of Missouri LLC (also tied to Smithfield/WH Group): 43,091 acres, in Missouri and North Carolina.
- Harvest Texas, LLC: 29,705 acres, in Texas.
- U.S. Agri-Chemicals Corp.: 11,263 acres, in Florida.
- Syngenta Seeds, LLC: 2,452 acres, across various states, emphasizing seed and agricultural research agreements.
Other notable holders include Hung’s Shrimp Farm, Inc. (1,950 acres in Texas), CSCEC-US, Inc. (956 acres in Georgia), and smaller entities like GHJ Associates, LLC (492 acres in Virginia). Importantly, no direct filings from the Chinese government appear in the data, and holdings are often through U.S.-based subsidiaries or joint ventures.
Types of Land and Strategic Uses
Chinese-held land breaks down as follows: cropland at 5,527 acres (used for crops like corn), pastureland at 2,277 acres (for livestock grazing), forestland at 897 acres (for timber or biodiversity projects), other agricultural land at 132,853 acres (including specialized pasture-related uses), and non-agricultural land at 1,960 acres. Many acquisitions support renewable energy initiatives, such as wind energy turbines or solar energy panels, which align with global carbon offsets but could also serve as platforms for other activities.
Proximity to military bases, as in the Grand Forks case, amplifies concerns about potential uses for surveillance, supply chain threats, or even the introduction of pathogens through processing facilities. These strategic placements highlight how land holdings extend beyond traditional farming into areas with implications for critical infrastructure.
National Security and Food Security Concerns
National security risks are paramount, with land near military bases potentially enabling espionage, drone interference, or cyber vulnerabilities in energy projects. Experts point to risks like pathogens from food processing plants or disruptions in supply chains, particularly during geopolitical tensions. Food security issues arise from control over key companies like Smithfield, which could affect domestic pork supplies or broader agricultural outputs.
The 2025 National Security Strategy reinforces these concerns, advocating for America First policies to mitigate threats from foreign adversaries. Recommendations from oversight bodies emphasize improved monitoring to address gaps in data collection and sharing.
Regulatory Framework: Federal and State Levels
The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act mandates reporting of foreign land holdings to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, enforced through fines for non-disclosures and supported by an online filing system for greater transparency. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States reviews transactions for national security implications, with expanded authority in recent years to scrutinize deals near more military bases.
At the state level, 38 states now enforce bans or restrictions on foreign ownership, with policy measures specifically targeting entities from countries like China. An interagency committee facilitates coordination between federal and state efforts, while recent proposals aim to include long-term leases in reporting requirements.
Recent Policy Developments
In 2025, federal actions have intensified, including bans on new Chinese farmland purchases and directives for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to formulate plans for eliminating certain holdings. Building on prior administrations’ frameworks, these include updates to disclosure forms and the development of searchable maps for foreign farmland purchases. Legislative efforts, such as bills to enhance oversight, continue to evolve, with a focus on digitizing and geocoding data for better tracking.
Broader Context of Foreign Investment
Although Chinese holdings are minimal compared to those of other nations, they symbolize heightened geopolitical sensitivities. Foreign investment overall injects capital into U.S. agriculture, supporting innovation and infrastructure, but it also fuels debates on sovereignty and economic dependencies. The surge in renewable energy-related acquisitions, often unrelated to core farming, represents a significant driver of recent trends.
Insights and Future Outlook
Chinese ownership of U.S. agricultural land, while limited and on a downward trajectory, encapsulates larger issues of supply chain vulnerabilities and national security. Policymakers face the challenge of balancing economic advantages with robust safeguards, including accurate disclosures, targeted restrictions, and enhanced interagency collaboration. As international relations and environmental priorities shift, ongoing vigilance through federal and state mechanisms will be essential to safeguarding America’s agricultural foundation. This evolving landscape demands continued attention to ensure transparency and protect vital resources.
