Chinese Firm Divests Arkansas Land Under New State Law
Craighead County, AR – In a significant move, Syngenta Seeds LLC, a state-owned Chinese company, has sold over 150 acres of agricultural land in Craighead County to Moore Legacy Farm LLC for $760,000. The sale occurred on May 15, 2023, following enforcement of a recent Arkansas law prohibiting foreign ownership of land by entities from specified countries, including China.
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin spearheaded the enforcement, making this case a pivotal test of the new legislation. Syngenta faced a $280,000 fine for failing to report its foreign ownership status to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, a requirement mandated under the law. "Because Syngenta is foreign owned – ultimately by the Chinese Communist Party – it was required to report its ownership of agricultural land to the Secretary," Griffin stated. "It failed to timely do so."
The land in question had been utilized for developing seed technology and conducting research. Concerns about the implications of foreign control over U.S. agricultural resources have been mounting. Governor Sarah Sanders underscored the risks, asserting that Chinese corporations often funnel sensitive research back to their government, potentially compromising U.S. agricultural security.
Syngenta is owned by ChemChina, one of several Chinese State Owned Enterprises (SOEs). The U.S. Department of Defense previously classified ChemChina as a "military company," highlighting ongoing concerns about the dual-use nature of its operations.
This transaction marks a significant victory for state officials aiming to safeguard local agricultural land from foreign influence, reflecting a broader trend of tightening regulations around foreign investments in the U.S. agricultural sector.
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