Bill Gates Farmland growing potatoes for McDonald's fries is visible from space: Report

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is largest private farmland owner in United States, according to a report from NBC. Potatoes for McDonald’s french fries, carrots for world’s largest producer and onions at grocery store are just a few of numerous crops growing on agricultural empire belonging to Bill and Melinda Gates. billionaire couple, who are now in midst of a divorce, have accumulated more than 269,000 acres of farmland across 18 states and ir Washington farms can also be seen from space. 

Citing data by Land Report and its own research, media outlet said that y’ve got 70,000 acres of soybeans, corn, cotton, and rice in Louisiana; 20,000 more of soybeans in Nebraska; and 14,000 acres in Washington, including potato fields supplying McDonald’s. Gates’ US farmland is held both directly and through his investment group, Casce, which was recently mentioned in a New York Times investigation alleging inappropriate workplace behaviour. Previously, Bill, who is known for his philanthropic work, h also suggested that he does not treat his American farmland investments as part of his broer plans to save planet. 

Gates’ farmland under scrutiny 

refore, his land ownership has come under close scrutiny as it is viewed as an investment commodity. As per reports, more than 50 per cent of farmers don’t own land y till, and price of crop average has doubled between mid-1990s and today, to nearly $3,000 an acre. Johnathan Hlik, policy director at Center for Rural Affairs, told NBC News that farmers aren’t owning assets anymore; inste, someone else is owning that asset, wher it’s rented equipment or land. 

Hlik said that when Bill Gates or whatever or investment arm owns land, a farmer still needs to farm it. Hlik explained that now as y are just renting it, best y can do if y want to stay in farming is rent land. “You’re not going to get benefits that come with land ownership,” Hlik said.

Furr, re are also climate concerns. Bill h said that farm activity is a business endeavour, separate from his climate change philanthropy. Although he has noted his farms are part of sustainability initiatives surround soil health in ir own right. It is worth noting that US agriculture makes up more than 10 per cent of country’s total carbon emission and no one personally has more agriculture in ir portfolio than Gates family. 

(Image: AP/Unsplash)