June 2nd, 2011
Via KnightFrank, an interesting report on the global investment interest in agricultural land: “…The arguments for investing in farmland seem compelling. Food and soft commodity prices have hit record highs (see graph, below). The OECD estimates that food production will need to increase by 70% before 2050 to satisfy global population growth and changing consumption[…]
Read more »When The Nile Runs Dry…
June 2nd, 2011
Courtesy of The New York Times, an interesting commentary on the impact of global land grabs upon Nile water resources. As the article notes: “…A NEW scramble for Africa is under way. As global food prices rise and exporters reduce shipments of commodities, countries that rely on imported grain are panicking. Affluent countries like Saudi[…]
Read more »May 27th, 2011
Via The New York Times, an interesting article on Brazil’s unease with China’s recent interest in its farmland. As the report notes: “When the Chinese came looking for more soybeans here last year, they inquired about buying land — lots of it. Officials in this farming area would not sell the hundreds of thousands of[…]
Read more »African Land Grabs May Lead To Water Conflicts
May 27th, 2011
Via New Scientist, a report on how African land “grabs” may lead to future water conflicts: IS THIS the face of future water conflicts? China, India and Saudi Arabia have lately leased vast tracts of land in sub-Saharan Africa at knockdown prices. Their primary aim is to grow food abroad using the water that African[…]
Read more »May 24th, 2011
An interesting commentary on reports that Uganda is ready to lease 60,000 hectares of farmland to Bangladeshi firms looking to grow food in Africa as part of government efforts to ensure food security for its growing population: One of the most intensely discussed international economic phenomena in recent years is that of companies from across[…]
Read more »Land Grab Or Development?
May 24th, 2011
Via African Agriculture, a thoughtful essay on whether the push by multinational corporations and foreign governments in recent years to obtain fertile land in countries such as Ethiopia, Madagascar and Tanzania will lead to development or is simply a “land grab” that further threatens the continent’s food security. As the article notes: “…There has been[…]
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