The Impact of Land, Water and Resource-grabbing On Food Security In Africa

Via Farmland Grab, a report on Obang Metho’s presentation to the 1st Africa Congress on Effective Cooperation for a Green Africa in Bremerhaven, Germany: Thank you for inviting me to address the 1st Africa Congress on Effective Cooperation for a Green Africa (ECOGA). It is a great honor for me to be here with you […]

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Global South Acquired By Investors

Two interesting graphics, one new and one old.  First, the old, via the Christian Science Monitor:  Then, the new, via Peter Giovanni: Land grabbing: what is it? Land grabbing is a term that describes the acquisition of farmland by companies, governments and individuals. In the last years the term has been used to refer to […]

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The Hunger Grains

Via Oxfam, a summary of a new report that strongly suggests EU biofuel mandates should be scrapped: The report shows how concerns about land and food rights around the world, both major campaigning priorities for Oxfam, are closely linked to EU biofuel mandates. In 2009, EU governments committed to sourcing 10 per cent of transport […]

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Silicon Valley Venture Capitalist: Betting On Pakistan

Via the San Francisco Examiner, an interesting article on Tim Draper’s Pakistani investments: On the anniversary of 9/11, terrorism theorists may be surprised to learn that the smart money is on Pakistani agriculture. Local private equity kingpin Tim Draper, a renowned, international venture capitalist, is quietly investing in Pakistani agribusiness, one of the biggest providers […]

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Africa’s Land-Grab Disaster In Waiting

Via Kenya’s the Star, an article on the impact of the global land “grab”: A new report by Oxfam, a leading international relief agency, warns that climate change will increase the frequency of large spikes in global food prices, leading to more hungry people around the world. Besides climate change, rapid population growth, higher per […]

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The Great Land Rush

Via Future Challenges, a look at what they call the Great Land Rush: Rising populations and the development of biofuels are increasing demand for arable land all over the world, and Arrianna Marie Conerly Coleman says that small farmers are the first to suffer Land means different things to different people. While an economist might […]

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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.