October 13th, 2015
Via the Worldwatch Institute, a new report on the increasing tendency – as global agricultural resources shrink or shift – for countries to cross borders to obtain new farmlands: Since 2000, more than 36 million hectares—an area about the size of Japan—has been purchased or leased by foreign entities, mostly for agricultural use. Today, nearly 15[…]
Read more »Selling The Farm
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 »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 »Investors: Grabbing A Japan-Size Chunk Of The Developing World For Food And Water
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 »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 »The Scramble for Africa: Living On In The 21st Century
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[…]
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