The U.S. government is elevating agriculture to a core national security priority, a shift officials say reflects growing concerns about foreign ownership of farmland, supply-chain vulnerabilities and global food instability. Under a new federal strategy released this week, agriculture will be treated alongside energy and defense as a strategic sector critical to economic resilience and geopolitical stability. The plan calls for tighter scrutiny of foreign investment in U.S. farmland, stronger domestic production incentives and closer coordination between the Agriculture, Defense and Homeland Security departments. Officials said recent disruptions, including trade conflicts, extreme weather and geopolitical tensions, exposed weaknesses in food and input supply chains. Farm groups broadly welcomed the move, saying it underscores the importance of protecting domestic production capacity and rural economies. Critics cautioned that expanded oversight must be carefully targeted to avoid discouraging investment or burdening producers. Administration officials said implementation details will be rolled out in the coming months through regulatory actions and interagency coordination.
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