National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Investigated For CCP ties and DEI programs With Syngenta Group

Federal lawmakers, led by the House Ways and Means Committee and the Congressional FFA Caucus, are probing the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) due to its partnership with Syngenta Group, a company controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and its promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The inquiry raises national security concerns and questions about the organization’s compliance with its tax-exempt status as a nonprofit focused on agricultural education. Chairman Jason Smith and co-chair Tracey Mann sent a letter to FFA CEO Scott Stump, demanding documents and explanations about the partnership’s influence on internal policies and adherence to federal tax laws. The lawmakers argue that collaborating with foreign adversaries and prioritizing “woke policies” over its mission could jeopardize the FFA’s tax-exempt standing.

Syngenta’s Ties to the Chinese Government

The letter highlights Syngenta Group’s ownership by China National Chemical Corp. (ChemChina), a state-owned enterprise that merged into Sinochem Holdings in 2017. Both entities were designated as Communist Chinese military companies during the Trump administration, restricting their access to U.S. funding due to Beijing’s military-civil fusion strategy. Although the designations were lifted in 2021 under the Biden administration, Syngenta was later redesignated, underscoring persistent concerns. Lawmakers point to U.S. efforts to curb Chinese influence in agriculture, including state and federal actions to limit land ownership by Chinese entities and force divestitures of farmland held by Syngenta subsidiaries, all driven by national security risks.

Concerns Over Foreign Influence and DEI Initiatives

The inquiry expresses alarm over Syngenta’s access to FFA’s leadership, programs, and over one million student members, potentially allowing a Chinese state-owned company to influence future American agricultural leaders. The lawmakers cite the Chinese Communist Party’s history of economic espionage in biotechnology and agriculture, warning that this partnership provides direct access to the U.S. farming industry’s next generation. Additionally, they criticize the FFA’s DEI programs, arguing that these initiatives shift focus from agricultural education to identity-based priorities that could divide students, and question whether Syngenta’s involvement in these efforts grants it undue sway over the organization’s direction. The goal, they state, should be uniting students as a community, not categorizing them.

Broader Oversight and Demands for Transparency

This probe is part of wider congressional oversight of tax-exempt organizations vulnerable to foreign influence, especially in areas like farm and food security, which are seen as national security priorities. Quoting USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, the lawmakers emphasize that “farm security is national security.” They demand detailed documents from the FFA, including contracts, financial contributions from Syngenta, roles of its employees in advisory positions, and involvement in diversity and strategic programs. In a statement, Chairman Smith noted the committee’s expansion of investigations into malign foreign influence, stressing that the FFA’s vital role in educating future farmers must not be compromised by ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The FFA was contacted for comment on the matter. and add 1 header title for each paragraph describing it

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