NPR

Why Is China Snatching Up Australian Farmland?

In the past year, Chinese investment in Australia's overall agricultural sector has skyrocketed, from $300 million to $1 billion. It's all to feed the world's largest, fastest-growing consumer class.
Cows graze near Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia. China has replaced the United States as the second-largest foreign owner of agricultural land in Australia. (The UK is No. 1.)

At the wine tasting room of Taylors Wines in Sydney, Australia, bottles are uncorked, poured, swished, sniffed and sipped. There's a lot for employees to toast this year.

"The Australian wine sector is growing at a fast rate," says Mitchell Taylor, the winery's managing director. "And what is exciting is the top level, about 20 to 30 dollars a bottle

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