Arkansas Governor Orders Chinese-Owned Company to Divest

Land Deal Raises National Security Concerns

Syngenta Ordered to Sell 160 Acres

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has ordered Syngenta, a Chinese-owned agriculture tech firm, to relinquish its holdings in the state. The order comes amid growing concerns about the involvement of foreign entities in the U.S. food supply chain.

The company has been given two years to divest itself of 160 acres (774,400 square meters) of farmland in the state. The order is part of a broader effort by Governor Sanders to protect Arkansas's national security interests.

Sanders said in a statement that the sale of the land is necessary to "protect the integrity of our food supply and our national security." She added that the state "will not tolerate any foreign entity that seeks to undermine our way of life."

The order has been met with mixed reactions. Some have praised it as a necessary step to protect national security, while others have criticized it as xenophobic and protectionist.

Syngenta has said that it will comply with the order. The company has not commented on the governor's allegations about national security concerns.

The order by Governor Sanders is a significant development in the ongoing debate about the role of foreign entities in the U.S. food supply chain. It will be closely watched by other states and federal agencies.