The FARM Act is designed to protect American agriculture from foreign control and influence. Right now, when foreign companies or governments want to invest in U.S. businesses, a special government committee reviews whether these investments pose national security risks. This bill adds the Secretary of Agriculture to that committee so farming and food production get proper attention during these reviews. It also makes the committee specifically look at any foreign investment that could result in a foreign company taking control of an American agricultural business—whether that's a farm, food processor, or related company.

The bill treats agricultural systems and supply chains as "critical infrastructure," similar to how the government protects things like power grids and water systems. This means foreign investments in agriculture will face the same level of scrutiny as investments in other sensitive industries. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture and a government watchdog agency called the Government Accountability Office must study and report back on how much foreign influence currently exists in American agriculture. This gives lawmakers better information about potential vulnerabilities in our food system and helps them understand where foreign interests are already involved in U.S. farming and food production.

FARM Act

Tuberville, Tommy

Foreign Adversary Risk Management Act or the FARM Act This bill places the Secretary of Agriculture on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. It also requires the committee to review any investment that could result in foreign control of any U.S. agricultural business. Further, the bill includes agricultural systems and supply chains in the definitions of critical infrastructure and critical technologies for the purposes of reviewing such investments. The Department of Agriculture and the Government Accountability Office must each analyze and report on foreign influence in the U.S. agricultural industry.