By Jamie Martin
The National Farm Security Action Plan was introduced to protect America’s farmland and food supply against foreign threats and growing risks. This initiative, backed by national leaders, including Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper, highlights agriculture’s role in national security.
Unveiled by leaders like USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and other federal officials, the plan focuses on defending U.S. agriculture through seven main action areas:
- Farmland Protection: Targeting foreign ownership with strict transparency and tougher laws.
- Supply Chain Resilience: Building stronger domestic production and reducing reliance on foreign nations.
- Fraud Prevention in Food Programs: Stopping foreign crime groups from exploiting U.S. nutrition aid.
- Research Protection: Safeguarding American agricultural innovation from hostile takeovers.
- America First Programs: Prioritizing American interests in USDA services.
- Plant and Animal Health: Preventing biological threats before they reach U.S. farms.
- Critical Infrastructure Defense: Securing farms and food supply systems as national security priorities.
Concerns have grown over foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, especially by Chinese companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Examples include the 2014 Smithfield Foods purchase, land buys near military bases, and large-scale farmland acquisitions in multiple states.
In 2024, Georgia acted by banning adversarial foreign ownership of farmland. Commissioner Harper led this protective measure with support from state lawmakers to keep Georgia’s farmland secure.
The National Farm Security Action Plan marks a united effort to protect American agriculture from foreign threats, ensure food safety, and strengthen national security.
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Categories: National