USDA signs $300M deal with Palantir

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced it has entered into a $300 million agreement with Palantir Technologies to support its National Farm Security Action Plan.

According to reporting from Reuters, the deal will expand the USDA’s existing “Landmark” platform and advance a “One Farmer, One File” system designed to consolidate farm data into a single digital profile. Officials say the goal is to streamline reporting, improve access to services, and enhance visibility across the agricultural system, which is increasingly being framed as critical national infrastructure. USDA CIO Sam Berry said the initiative will provide “visibility and speed” to help safeguard the food supply.

However, critics like Christian Westbrook, an agricultural researcher and commentator who focuses on topics such as food security and societal preparedness, have raised concerns about what this level of data consolidation could mean in practice.

In a recent YouTube video, Westbrook argued that centralizing detailed farm-level information — including acreage, production, and inputs — may give government and corporate partners unprecedented visibility into the food system, while also linking to broader trends in precision agriculture, automated equipment, and sensor-based soil monitoring. His commentary frames the move as part of a longer-term shift toward technocratic management of agriculture.