Three key GOP lawmakers are demanding the National FFA Organization explain its ties to agribusiness giant Syngenta, calling the company an arm of Communist China, and accusing the firm of driving the national organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
A seven-page letter sent to FFA Executive Director Scott Stump suggests the group’s tax-exempt status could be at stake because of its work with Syngenta, a major supplier of seeds and chemicals to U.S. farmers.
The letter was signed by House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith of Missouri; David Schweikert of Arizona, who chairs the Ways and Means oversight subcommittee; and Tracey Mann of Kansas, co-chair and co-founder of the Congressional FFA Caucus.
“Working with our nation’s foreign adversaries and prioritizing woke policies over your mission raises serious concerns regarding whether the National FFA is complying with the requirements to maintain tax-exempt,” the letter says.
The letter notes that Syngenta is a subsidiary of China National Chemical Corp. and accuses Syngenta of “attempting to throttle competition in the agricultural industry, increasing costs for American farmers.”
The letter goes on, “The ties and access afforded to Syngenta may create a credible risk that [Chinese Communist Party] messaging and propaganda could infiltrate FFA education and guidance, posing a direct threat to our nation’s farm and food security.”
The lawmakers also allege FFA has prioritized DEI in its strategic plan and selected Syngenta in 2022 as “Partner for Inaugural Executive in Residence tasked with implementing this DEI agenda.
“This is more evidence indicating Syngenta is attempting to gain greater insight into and influence over the internal operations of your organization, at the expense of educating future farmers on safeguarding U.S. agriculture and agricultural intellectual property from foreign adversaries.”
The letter gives Stump until Feb. 17 to provide the following to the committee in addition to the dollar amount of any Syngenta contributions:
- Information and documents related to employees Syngenta or its subsidiaries that serve in any capacity at the national state or local level.
- “Internal recommendations for the DEI strategy and programs created, recommended, or reviewed by Syngenta since 2020.”
- Information and documents on how the FFA’s DEI policy “plays a role in hiring, promotions, and other employee advancement at the organization.”
FFA said in a statement to Agri-Pulse: “The National FFA Organization is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that serves to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.
"While FFA accepts support from generous donors and sponsors throughout the agricultural and agri-business community, it does not and cannot advocate the views for any donor or sponsor. FFA has received a Congressional inquiry about one of our sponsors, and it intends to cooperate fully. As this is an ongoing investigation, FFA will have no further comment.”
A spokesperson for Syngenta didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Smith said in a post on X. “As a former FFA member, it greatly concerns me that the tax-exempt organization tasked with raising our next generation of farmers is partnered with the CCP.” CCP is the Chinese Communist Party.
“The CCP has NO BUSINESS being involved with America’s next generation of agricultural producers.”
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