Lawmakers are seeking clarification from the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) about its collaboration with agribusinesses connected to the Chinese Communist Party and its initiatives on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). They express concerns over national security and its tax-exempt status.
The investigation, led by the House Ways and Means Committee and the Congressional FFA Caucus, focuses on FFA’s connection with Syngenta Group. They question whether this partnership aligns with FFA’s mission as a nonprofit organization.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith and Congressional FFA Caucus Co-Chair Tracy Mann reached out to FFA CEO Scott Stump. They requested documentation about the partnership, Syngenta’s influence on internal policies, and adherence to federal tax regulations. The lawmakers expressed apprehension over FFA working with foreign adversaries and favoring policies that might compromise its tax-exempt status.
In their letter, the committee underlined FFA’s responsibility in training future agricultural leaders, noting its impact on over 1 million students across numerous chapters nationwide.
They dedicated a considerable portion of the letter to discussing Syngenta’s ownership—highlighting its ties to the Chinese government—as a significant concern regarding foreign influence over U.S. youth organizations. Since 2017, Syngenta has been wholly owned by the China National Chemical Corporation, which later merged with Sinochem Holdings.
Both ChemChina and Sinochem were classified as Chinese military enterprises during the Trump administration. Although these designations were lifted in 2021 under Biden, Syngenta was redesignated as a Chinese military company, raising ongoing concerns about its association with the Chinese state.
Additionally, the letter referenced actions at various government levels that seek to limit Chinese control in U.S. agriculture. This includes moves to force a Syngenta subsidiary to sell farmland and efforts to restrict land sales to Chinese entities based on national security fears.
In this context, the lawmakers noted that Syngenta’s access to FFA students and programs could introduce undue influence on future U.S. agricultural leaders. They expressed worry over the Chinese Communist Party’s history of economic espionage, particularly in biotechnology and agriculture.
In terms of FFA’s DEI initiative, lawmakers criticized the approach, suggesting it could detract from agricultural education and create divisions among students. They raised concerns about whether Syngenta’s involvement in these efforts provides it with inappropriate sway over FFA’s direction.
Smith and Mann indicated that this inquiry is part of a wider Congressional effort to monitor tax-exempt organizations that may be susceptible to foreign influence, especially as food security increasingly becomes a national security issue.
The letter requested FFA to submit various documents, including contracts related to its partnership with Syngenta, the involvement of Syngenta employees in leadership roles, and the company’s influence on FFA’s diversity programs.
Smith noted that the investigation is expanding to include the FFA due to alarming reports of its ties with entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party, which seem to affect its decision-making. He emphasized the importance of FFA’s role in educating future farmers and safeguarding the nation’s food supply.
Fox News Digital has sought comments from the National FFA on these issues.
