On July 8, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the National Farm Security Plan, aimed at protecting one of America’s most overlooked strategic assets: farmland. The plan targets foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land, with scrutiny on entities affiliated with China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The plan, backed by DHS, DOD, and DOJ, aligns farmland with ports, telecoms, and power grids and treats it as a strategic resource.
In January 2024 the U.S. GAO provided congress a comprehensive report on foreign investments in U.S. agricultural land, highlighting the national security threat. That report contained recommendations that are largely addressed by the USDA’s plan.
China’s hand is in the cookie jar
Investigations have frequently revealed Chinese-linked land acquisitions close to U.S. military bases. Furthermore, the established pattern of agroespionage resulted in arrests and convictions where Chinese operatives targeted genetically modified corn plots in Iowa and Illinois, relying on insider knowledge to locate high-value seed varieties. In another case, a USDA scientist enabled unauthorized Chinese access to genetically modified rice trials designed to produce therapeutic proteins. These were not isolated incidents—they were methodical efforts to extract agricultural IP from U.S. research facilities.
Broad government support
“Foreign ownership of land near strategic bases and US military installations poses a serious threat to our national security. The Farm Security Plan will put America First and keep our bases across the homeland secure,” said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
“Farm security is national security. The Department of Justice will continue working to prosecute those who threaten American agriculture, investigate cases of potential agro-terrorism, and protect America’s farmers from illegal threats at home and abroad,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“Food policy is national security policy. A country who cannot feed itself, cannot take care of itself, and cannot provide for itself is not secure. We have to be able to feed ourselves to make sure that no other country ever controls us…We will never let any other country control our food supply or control our people because we will always be the great United States of America,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
The plan as a counterintelligence measure
The plan specifically targets China, but it also allows for the inclusion of other “countries of concern.” It is China that has demonstrated the most cohesive national strategy—fusing agriculture, food security, and economic influence under a singular geopolitical umbrella. Through corporate proxies and exploitation of insiders, Chinese interests have systematically sought control of farmland, biotech research, and land near critical military infrastructure.
According to the USDA press release, the plan addresses seven key areas:
- Secure and Protect American Farmland – Address U.S. foreign farmland ownership from adversaries head on. Total transparency. Tougher penalties.
- Enhance Agricultural Supply Chain Resilience – Refocus domestic investment into key manufacturing sectors and identify non-adversarial partners to work with when domestic production is not available. Plan for contingencies.
- Protect U.S. Nutrition Safety Net from Fraud and Foreign Exploitation – Billions have been stolen by foreign crime rings. That ends now.
- Defend Agricultural Research and Innovation – No more sweetheart deals or secret pacts with hostile nations. American ideas stay in America.
- Put America First in Every USDA Program – From farm loans to food safety, every program will reflect the America First agenda.
- Safeguard Plant and Animal Health – Crack down on bio-threats before they ever reach our soil.
- Protect Critical Infrastructure – Farms, food, and supply chains are national security assets—and will be treated as such.
Plan’s potential
The plan has the potential to strengthen interagency coordination, including a CIFUIS review of Chinese investment in the agricultural sector. States like Arkansas, Florida, Texas, and Illinois have already moved forward with legislation limiting Chinese investment.
From a parity perspective, U.S. citizens and companies are prohibited from owning land in China. Foreign investors may lease land-use rights for limited periods, but outright ownership of agricultural property is illegal.
