Bill Gates' Investments in American Farmland Driven by Financial Gain, says Book Exposing Billionaire Influence on Everyday Americans

Bill Gates' recent investments in American farmland and alternative food companies are primarily driven by financial gain rather than environmental concerns, according to a new book by journalist Seamus Bruner. Titled Controligarchs, the book explores the influence of billionaires like Gates on everyday Americans. Bruner claims that Gates, along with other billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, is monopolizing the food supply in the US through his land acquisitions and investments in patented fertilizers and plant-based meats.

He argues that this control over intellectual property in food production comes at the expense of small-scale farmers and leads to pollution, resource exhaustion, and consolidation of corporate-controlled farms. Bruner also highlights Gates' connection to the Rockefellers and their role in the 'Green Revolution', which promoted genetically modified crops to increase food production. While acknowledging the positive aspects of increased crop abundance, Bruner argues that the Rockefellers took credit for the success while deflecting blame for negative consequences such as pollution and the consolidation of farms.

He suggests that Gates is following a similar pattern by promoting new patented products to address the climate crisis and enrich himself, rather than supporting small-scale farmers and sustainable practices. The book also addresses Gates' investments in the fertilizer industry, which coincided with restrictions on traditional fertilizers promoted by a United Nations initiative. Bruner suggests that the intellectual property for replacement fertilizers was secured before these restrictions were put in place, benefiting Gates and other investors.

Bruner further claims that Gates is buying up large amounts of American farmland not just for the land itself, but also for control over water rights, which are crucial in controlling the agricultural industry. Regarding Gates' investments in alternative meat companies, Bruner argues that they are primarily about controlling the food market rather than saving the planet. He questions the sincerity of Gates' advocacy for climate action while he and other billionaires continue to enjoy traditional beef and pork, suggesting that their investments in lab-grown meats and other alternatives are driven by financial motives rather than personal preferences.

In response to these claims, a spokesperson for Gates has called them false, stating that Gates' farmland holdings represent a tiny fraction of the total in the US, and that the investments are part of a long-term strategy that benefits agriculture and generates jobs. Bruner's book, released recently, aims to expose the influence and agendas of the billionaire class in dominating the lives of average Americans.