In Australia, more farms and agricultural land came under foreign ownership again last year. Australia supports a free market and is open to foreign investments in its agricultural and food sectors.
An overview from the Australian Taxation Office shows that the number of farms owned by foreigners increased by 9.4% to 9,897. Australians can also be co-owners, for example in partnerships or investment companies.
Despite current political tensions and trade conflicts in agriculture between Australia and China, until recently the largest foreign investors by far came from the People's Republic. Chinese investors managed a total of 9.2 million hectares, representing 2.4% of the cropland and especially the pastures in Australia.
In previous years, some large cattle farms were acquired by Chinese investors, but in 2020 there were hardly any Chinese purchases.
In second place among foreign owners are investors from the United Kingdom. However, British investors have been withdrawing from the country for several years; recently by 9.5%.
With about 2.8 million hectares each and a share of 0.7% of the country's agricultural area, the Dutch and Americans rank third and fourth among foreign farmers. The land cultivated by foreigners is largely (85%) used for animal production, mainly beef and dairy.