Arkansas Compels Chinese-Owned Seed Producer to Divest 160 Acres Over Security Worries
The state of Arkansas is forcing a Chinese-owned seed producer, Syngenta, to sell 160 acres of farmland within the next two years due to national security concerns. The company, acquired by China National Chemical Corp in 2017, is on the US Department of Defense's list of Chinese military companies posing a threat to national security. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated that seeds are considered technology, and hostile countries could exploit knowledge of American farming practices. The state's Attorney General, Tim Griffin, announced a fine for Syngenta for failing to disclose its foreign ownership. The move marks the first enforcement of a law banning foreign entities from owning agricultural land in Arkansas.