USDA Announces New Farm Security Actions to Protect Agricultural Research and Innovation
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced a series of coordinated actions focused on agricultural research, innovation, and national security through USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan. The initiatives are designed to strengthen oversight of foreign involvement in U.S. agriculture while ensuring federal programs prioritize American farmers, manufacturers, and domestic supply chains.
According to USDA, the actions are intended to ”strengthen transparency around foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land and ensure federal programs and purchasing preferences do not support supply chains controlled by foreign adversaries.” The announcement reflects growing concern over foreign influence in critical areas of the U.S. food and agriculture system.
Secretary Rollins emphasized the national security implications tied to farmland ownership and federal spending. She stated, “Strengthening national security starts with knowing who owns our farmland and where federal dollars are flowing. These actions close long-standing gaps in oversight and enforcement by improving transparency around foreign land ownership and ensuring USDA programs support American farmers and manufacturers, while prioritizing domestic supply chains – not foreign adversaries.”
One of the key components of the plan is the opening of an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) related to the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA). This process will allow for public comment as USDA works to refine and strengthen how foreign investments in U.S. agricultural land are reported and monitored. The department says the goal is to “improve the regulation” and close enforcement gaps that have existed for years.
In addition, USDA is strengthening the implementation of its BioPreferred Program, which promotes the purchase of bio-based products. These updates are intended to ensure that federal programs and purchasing preferences prioritize American producers and manufacturers and rid out foreign adversaries. The changes aim to reinforce domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on entities tied to geopolitical competitors.
USDA data highlights the urgency behind these actions. According to the department, at least 277,000 acres of agricultural land in the U.S. are controlled by entities linked to foreign adversaries. Officials say improving transparency and oversight is critical to safeguarding agricultural research, food production, and long-term land stewardship.
Taken together, USDA says these measures “reiterate USDA’s historic commitment to American agriculture as a key element of our nation’s national security, addressing urgent threats from foreign adversaries and strengthening the resilience of our nation’s food and agricultural systems.” The National Farm Security Action Plan positions agricultural research and innovation as essential tools in protecting both farmers and the nation’s food supply moving forward.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.