A recent study by Michigan State University has analyzed the increasing legislative activity across U.S. states aimed at restricting foreign ownership of agricultural land. The research, published in the journal Food Policy, examines 143 bills introduced in 34 states and actions by over 6,700 state legislators. It provides a comprehensive assessment of what drives these legislative efforts.
David Ortega, a professor and the Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics and Policy at MSU, commented on the study’s significance: “This is a topic that touches on agriculture, land access, food security and international investment.” He added that the goal was to understand the motivations behind this surge in state-level action.
The research highlights national security concerns and political ideology as primary drivers rather than economic factors. This comes amid reports of Chinese companies acquiring land near military bases and broader geopolitical tensions. Although Chinese investors hold less than 1% of all foreign-owned U.S. farmland, bills targeting “foreign adversaries” have become common.
Lin Lin, a doctoral candidate and lead author of the study, noted that some legislative responses reflect broader concerns beyond just farmland: “They reflect a broader set of concerns that go beyond land use itself.”
The analysis found political affiliation and committee roles to be significant predictors for proposing or supporting restrictive bills. However, it also considers district-level demographics, economic conditions, and military installations as influential factors.
Ortega emphasized the need for informed discussions around managing land access while safeguarding economic and national interests: “Our hope is that this research can support more informed, balanced discussions around how to manage land access while safeguarding economic and national interests.”
The study also points out that many states proposing new restrictions already had existing regulations. Researchers stress the importance of reliable data from the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act for evaluating market dynamics and long-term food security impacts.
The findings underscore potential unintended consequences such as reduced local investment opportunities, discrimination issues for lawful immigrant landowners, trade retaliation risks, diplomatic strains, and costly legal challenges.
