Foreign ownership of U.S. farmland grew by 1.58 million acres in 2023. European investments in renewable energy projects like solar and wind farms accounted for the majority of growth.

Foreign investors now hold about 46 million acres. This is a 3.6% increase from 2022 and represents 3.6% of privately held U.S. agricultural land. Canada remains the largest foreign landholder. This is followed by the Netherlands, Italy, and the U.K.

Chinese ownership decreased by 27% due to national security concerns and reclassifications of ownership. The decline was due to legislative measures and reduced holdings by a Chinese investor in a Texas renewable energy project.

Foreign companies tied to wind, energy and solar held 11 million, 5 million, and 1.5 million acres, respectively. Limited land availability in Europe has driven investors to the U.S. Most land is held by nations considered friendly, though data gaps remain.

Read more on the foreign ownership of U.S. farmland here.