Archive for June, 2011

The Dangers of Selling The Farm Down Under

Via Crikey.com, a report on foreign investment and interest in Australia’s farmland: With the world’s population set to hit 7 billion later this year  —  and 10 billion by the end of the century  —  top quality agricultural land has never been more valuable. Perhaps it’s with an eye for a good investment opportunity or, as some concerned observers […]

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The Hungry Dragon: China Increasing Its Argentine Farmland Purchases

Courtesy of Agriculture.com, a report that China is increasing its Argentina farmland purchases: Chinese investment is flooding into Argentina as the Asian giant expands its global commodity hunt from the raw materials used in industry to the foodstuffs needed to feed its 1.3 billion citizens. China’s investment in Latin America hit $15.6 billion during the […]

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Quick Studies? Universities Invest In African Farmland

Courtesy of The Guardian, a report that institutions including Harvard and Vanderbilt reportedly use hedge funds to buy African farmland: “…Harvard and other major American universities are working through British hedge funds and European financial speculators to buy or lease vast areas of African farmland in deals, some of which may force many thousands of […]

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America’s Hottest Investment: Farmland

Courtesy of Time, an interesting article on the growing interest in farmland: This is usually a slow time of the year for farm sales. It’s past prime planting season. Yet, Sam Kain, Des Moines area manager for land sales at Farmers National, is busy. He has 3 auctions this week. Most of the 30 or […]

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Lay Of The Land: A Comparison of Farmland Prices Around the World

Via KnightFrank, an interesting report on the global investment interest in agricultural land: “…The arguments for investing in farmland seem compelling. Food and soft commodity prices have hit record highs (see graph, below). The OECD estimates that food production will need to increase by 70% before 2050 to satisfy global population growth and changing consumption […]

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When The Nile Runs Dry…

Courtesy of The New York Times, an interesting commentary on the impact of global land grabs upon Nile water resources.  As the article notes: “…A NEW scramble for Africa is under way. As global food prices rise and exporters reduce shipments of commodities, countries that rely on imported grain are panicking. Affluent countries like Saudi […]

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About This Blog And Its Author
Seeds Of A Revolution is committed to defining the disruptive geopolitics of the global Farms Race.  Due to the convergence of a growing world population, increased water scarcity, and a decrease in arable land & nutrient-rich soil, a spike of international investment interest in agricultural is inevitable and apt to bring a heretofore domestic industry into a truly global realm.  Whether this transition involves global land leases or acquisitions, the fundamental need for food & the protectionist feelings this need can give rise to is highly likely to cause such transactions to move quickly into the geopolitical realm.  It is this disruptive change, and the potential for a global farms race, that Seeds Of A Revolution tracks, analyzes, and forecasts.

Educated at Yale University (Bachelor of Arts - History) and Harvard (Master in Public Policy - International Development), Monty Simus has long held a keen interest in natural resource policy and the geopolitical implications of anticipated stresses in the areas of freshwater scarcity, biodiversity reserves & parks, and farm land.  Monty has lived, worked, and traveled in more than forty countries spanning Africa, China, western Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Southeast & Central Asia, and his personal interests comprise economic development, policy, investment, technology, natural resources, and the environment, with a particular focus on globalization’s impact upon these subject areas.  Monty writes about freshwater scarcity issues at www.waterpolitics.com and frontier investment markets at www.wildcatsandblacksheep.com.