On June 3, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced charges against two Chinese nationals for attempting to smuggle a harmful fungus into the United States. The fungus, Fusarium graminearum, is classified as a potential agroterrorism weapon due to its detrimental effects on humans and livestock and its ability to cause head blight in crops like wheat and barley.
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper praised the Department of Justice’s efforts in addressing this threat. “Make no mistake, China represents a direct threat to the safety and security of America’s food supply,” Harper stated. He highlighted Georgia’s proactive measures against foreign control over farmland, citing his leadership in banning Chinese ownership of Georgia farmland.
The individuals charged are Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, both with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). They were intercepted at Detroit Metropolitan Airport while attempting to smuggle Fusarium graminearum. Jian reportedly has connections with the CCP, while Liu conducts research on similar pathogens at a Chinese university.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture remains vigilant against threats to food security. Last year, GDA participated in an FBI symposium focused on bioterrorism and agroterrorism threats. The department continues to work closely with federal agencies to safeguard Georgia’s food supply.
Concerns about China’s influence in American agriculture have been rising. In 2014, Shuanghui Group purchased Smithfield Foods with financial backing from China’s state-controlled Bank of China. This acquisition has raised alarms over foreign control of U.S. agriculture assets.
Additionally, there have been instances where Chinese entities attempted or succeeded in purchasing farmland near strategic military sites in the U.S., prompting national security concerns.
In response to these developments, Georgia enacted legislation last year prohibiting adversarial foreign nations from acquiring state farmland—a move spearheaded by Commissioner Harper alongside the Georgia General Assembly.
