Securing American agriculture

By U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts
R-Nebraska

Nebraska farmers and ranchers produce the safest and most abundant food supply in the world. Agricultural inputs have further increased efficiency, improved resiliency to disease and drought, and reduced impacts on the environment. 

Nebraska producers have led the way on all those fronts. They feed and fuel the world. Last week, I introduced bipartisan legislation to secure our food and agricultural supply chains. 

Communist China is the single greatest foreign threat we face. A Communist China-led world would mean coercion instead of choice, tyranny instead of liberty, and dictatorship instead of democracy. We must defend our security and our way of life. I continue to fight for an all-of-government response to these challenges. One way to do that is by protecting key supply chains. We discovered the risk of being dependent on China during the pandemic. 

Among other supply chains, Communist China has gained significant market share in the production of essential agricultural inputs. Inputs like vitamins, veterinary pharmaceuticals, and crop protection tools. China now controls over 90% of vitamin C and vitamin B6 production. They control up to 85% of amino acids used in animal feed. That high market share threatens the existence of independent supply chains for key inputs. 

Losing access to these inputs could have major negative consequences on productivity, prices, and food security. A University of Wisconsin-Whitewater study found that China’s domination of the amino acids market could potentially destroy 30,000 U.S. jobs. It could also reduce economic activity by $15 billion per year. We can’t let that happen. We must diversify our supply chains.

Last week, I introduced the Securing American Agriculture Act with Democrat Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. Our bipartisan, bicameral bill will bolster and protect our food and agricultural supply chains. It will also reduce our reliance on foreign adversaries. 

Specifically, our bill does two things. First, it requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct an annual threat assessment. This would examine food and agricultural supply chains. It would look at current domestic production capacity for critical inputs. The assessment would also examine current and potential bottlenecks in our supply chains. 

Second, our bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to recommend solutions to mitigate threats from Communist China. This would mean recommending new rules or laws to encourage diversifying our supply chain away from China. That way, we can onshore more production and protect our supply chains. 

Our bill is bipartisan and bicameral. Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson and Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi are leading the legislation in the House. We’re working to get this common-sense bill over the finish line. 

China’s strategic control over crucial sectors of our food and agricultural supply chains poses a serious national security threat. Food security is national security. Losing access to key inputs could reduce productivity, increase food prices, and undermine food security. My Securing American Agriculture Act will bolster and protect these supply chains. It will reduce our reliance on foreign adversaries. It will protect Nebraska farmers and ranchers. I’ll keep fighting until we pass it.