September 13th, 2012
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[…]
Read more »Hungry For Investment
September 8th, 2012
Courtesy of the Wall Street Journal, a look at how the private sector can drive agricultural development in nations that need it most: Severe droughts, rising grain prices and food shortages—the latest headlines are an urgent call for action. Concern over food security is often overshadowed by the euro-zone troubles or other crises, but the[…]
Read more »September 8th, 2012
Via the Western Producer, an article about foreign investor interest in Canadian farmland: Saskatchewan farmland continues to be viewed as fertile ground for corporate investors to sink their money. But as the amount of investor-owned farmland grows, so do concerns about foreign ownership and loopholes in the province’s farmland ownership regulations. Mark Folk, general manager[…]
Read more »Economic Disaster Beckons As Water-Hungry Investors Buy Up Africa’s Land
August 31st, 2012
Courtesy of The Guardian, a report on how water drawn from rivers, dams or underground to irrigate new farms in Africa may severely affect users downstream: An employee at a rice farm in Gambella, Ethiopia. Many irrigation schemes are too reliant on ‘blue’ water, drawn from rivers, dams or underground sources. The rush of foreign[…]
Read more »August 31st, 2012
Courtesy of GRAIN.org, a look at the scramble for water in Africa: Food cannot be grown without water. In Africa, one in three people endure water scarcity and climate change will make things worse. Building on Africa’s highly sophisticated indigenous water management systems could help resolve this growing crisis, but these very systems are being[…]
Read more »Land Inc.
August 30th, 2012
Via the Terra Project, a look at the global fight for land control: Since the food crisis in 2008, food security and sovereignty had become a key target for many countries. A global growing demand for food, especially meat, and fuel, drives government and companies to invest in land, leasing or purchasing vast agricultural areas[…]
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