August 24th, 2021
Via Radio Free Europe, a report on Ukraine’s decision to lift a freeze on the sale of farmland: For small farmers in Ukraine, a traditional “breadbasket” that boasts some of the world’s richest soil, there’s something new under the sun this summer: They can sell their land if they want to. Liliya Sytnyk doesn’t. Like […]
Read more »China is Coming for American Farms
August 18th, 2021
Courtesy of Newsweek, more commentary on China’s growing interest in American farmland: While Washington’s growing focus on “great power competition” with China is expanding to encompass things like research and development, semiconductors and manufacturing, so far it hasn’t seriously addressed one element: American land. At the expense of American landowners, farmers and companies, Chinese corporations have […]
Read more »July 28th, 2021
Via The American Conservative, commentary on how – like communications technology – agriculture and land are a major front in China’s quest for economic dominance: Is Joe Biden weak on China? Millions of Americans certainly think so. With TikTok and WeChat, two spy tools favored by the Chinese regime, still operating in the U.S., President Biden could […]
Read more »China Is Buying Up American Farms, and Washington Wants It To Stop
July 20th, 2021
Via Politico, a look at how China is buying up American farms and US politicians want it to stop: The push to drain China’s influence from the U.S. economy has reached America’s farm country, as congressional lawmakers from both parties are looking at measures to crack down on foreign purchases of prime agricultural real estate. […]
Read more »July 15th, 2021
Via Nikkei Asia, an article on Chinese companies’ acquisition of nearly 6.5m hectares over the past 10 years: China’s strategic muscle-flexing is not limited to its expansive maritime claims and vigorous infrastructure exports; Chinese entities have also been aggressively acquiring land overseas. Chinese companies are buying up land in Asia and Africa. The combined area […]
Read more »Bill and Melinda Gates’ Empire of Dirt
June 7th, 2021
Via Mother Jones, an article on how wealthy investors are snapping up large tracts of farmland—and sowing discontent: Bill Gates, in his journey from software oligarch to philanthropist, has managed to hang on to a personal fortune worth $127 billion, making him the globe’s second-wealthiest person. As his wife Melinda French Gates’ divorce from him proceeds, it […]
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