October 2nd, 2015
Via The Economist, an interesting look at the prospect of foreign ownership of two giant Australian agri-businesses causing alarm Down Under: THE bare expanse of Anna Creek cattle station (as Australians call ranches) belies its strategic attraction to investors. Straddling the river plains of the state of South Australia, and reputed to be the world’s biggest […]
Read more »The Next Genocide: Triggered By Climate Change Induced Food Shortages?
September 13th, 2015
Via the New York Times, an interesting OpEd on how climate change has brought uncertainties about food supply back to the center of great power politics: BEFORE he fired the shot, the Einsatzgruppe commander lifted the Jewish child in the air and said, “You must die so that we can live.” As the killing proceeded, other Germans […]
Read more »September 2nd, 2015
Via TakePart, a report tracking these deals that says rich countries are buying up land—93 million acres—and displacing local people and wildlife: Foreign investors are increasingly buying or leasing large swaths of developing countriesin pursuit of food, water, and profit, according to human rights groups and academics, putting people and the environment at risk. In Papua, Indonesia, […]
Read more »The Great African Water Grab
August 27th, 2015
Via CGIAR, interesting commentary about the impact of foreign direct investment in African agriculture: “Buy land, they’re not making it anymore.” Mark Twain’s famous remark may be over a century old, but the allure of a patch of earth to call your own still remains potent. Nowhere is this more true than in sub-Saharan Africa […]
Read more »July 23rd, 2015
Via the Afrikan Post, an article on the contentious issue of large-scale land acquisitions; the buying or leasing of large pieces of land in developing countries, by domestic and transnational companies, governments, and individuals: ‘Land grabs’ stands tall as a major development challenge in Africa. Millions of agriculture dependent families are forced to leave their fertile lands for multinational companies […]
Read more »The Global Land Grab: Giving With One Hand And Taking Everything With The Other
July 12th, 2015
Via New Matilda.com, a detailed look at the global land grab: Ethiopia’s Omo Valley is one of the most culturally diverse places on the planet. Industrial-size sugar plantations and a soon to open dam are strangling indigenous communities over more than 375,000 hectares. Ethiopia is experiencing economic growth (though it’s a brutal dictatorship) and yet millions of […]
Read more »