December 6th, 2011
Courtesy of The Toronto Star, a report on international investor interest in Africa’s agricultural lands. As the article notes: Said Manga scans the red volcanic soil outside his mud-brick home and sees a patch of African plain bursting with life. The farmer watches plump chickens zigzag between nearby rows of maize, sorghum and wheat swaying […]
Read more »The Hungry Dragon: China in Africa – One For The Future?
November 29th, 2011
Via The Financial Times, an analysis on China’s interest in African trade, specifically foodstuffs and agriculture. As the article notes: “On the face of it, it should be a logical tie-up. China, with its burgeoning middle class and shrinking arable farmland, is facing increasing strains in its agricultural sector to meet domestic food demand. Africa, […]
Read more »November 24th, 2011
Via The Guardian, an interesting look at what they term Africa’s great ‘water grab’. As the article notes: The banks of the Niger river, in southern Mali, have been flooded by a steady stream of foreigners. Coveted by foreign investors eager to snap up large tracts of fertile farmland, the river basin has been at […]
Read more »Mali-able: Foreign Investment Jumps 60% in Mali
November 19th, 2011
Via The Guardian, a report on a surge in foreign investment in Mali’s agricultural sector. As the article notes: Foreign investment in arable land in Mali increased by 60% between 2009 and 2010, says a report published on Thursday to coincide with the first international farmers’ conference to tackle the global rush for land. The […]
Read more »November 17th, 2011
Via The Guardian, a report that Bangladesh is looking abroad for land to grow food to meet the country’s increasing demand and to create jobs for Bangladeshi migrants. As the article notes: The Bangladesh government is looking near and far – from Ukraine to South Sudan – to bolster food security at home, according to […]
Read more »The Hungry Dragon: China’s Tycoons Go Farming
November 11th, 2011
Via China Dialogue, an interesting article on how big business has woken up to the growth potential of organic agriculture in China and the impact that this may have upon small farmers: China’s biggest PC manufacturer to grow vegetables? It sounds ridiculous, but that’s exactly what Liu Chuanzhi, chairman of computer giant Lenovo, wants to […]
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