On 29 December 2011, Argentina promulgated the so-called Rural Land Law (Régimen de Protección al Dominio Nacional sobre la Propiedad, Posesión o Tenencia de las Tierras Rurales). The law restricts foreign holdings of rural land in Argentina to 15% of the total surface (with a 30% cap per nationality) and individual foreign holdings to 1000 hectares (2471 acres). The law also excludes foreigners from investments in coastal land or land close to other waterfronts (e.g. lakes, rivers, etc.).

According to the Agrarian Federation of Argentina, nearly7% of Argentina's land is owned by foreigners. The new law is a consequence of the government's concern of a growing foreign ownership of natural resources.