May 27th, 2009
Via The Financial Times, some further thoughts regarding food & farming as emerging geopolitical flashpoints. As the article notes: “…Food commodity prices remain near historic highs. Food riots destablised countries around the world last year – more than the financial crisis – and may well return. If food was ever a soft policy issue before,[…]
Read more »Japanese Efforts to Prevent Global “Farmland Grabbing”
May 26th, 2009
Via The Financial Times, a report on Japan’s efforts to spearhead a drive at the Group of Eight summit to prevent “farmland grabbing” in developing countries and encourage responsible investing in agriculture. As the article notes: African land is being given away almost for nothing “…The move shows growing fears among leading nations that rich[…]
Read more »May 25th, 2009
Via Consultancy Africa Intelligence, a report that China may not look towards Africa as a saviour in the trend towards outsourcing food production. As the article notes: “…China’s Deputy Agricultural Minister, Niu Dun, has announced that China will not look towards the African continent to outsource food production by investing in overseas farmland. Accoring to[…]
Read more »Food Security Concerns Fueling Global Farms Race
May 25th, 2009
Via The Financial Times, another look at how international food security concerns are fueling a global farms race. As the article notes: “…Only a short time ago, African farmland seemed of little interest to outsiders. But last year’s food crisis and water scarcity in many countries has changed foreigners’ appetite with the result being that[…]
Read more »May 24th, 2009
Via The Wall Street Journal, a report on the many farmers & corporations that are looking towards The Republic of the Congo as Africa’s Promised (agricultural) Land. As the article notes: “…They’re scrambling to get on board an ambitious venture to reclaim farmland in Congo’s interior and help relieve that country of a reliance on[…]
Read more »United Nations: Africa Giving Land Away Almost For Free
May 24th, 2009
As reported by The Financial Times, the United Nations thinks that African countries are giving away vast tracts of farmland to other countries and investors almost for free, with the only benefits consisting of vague promises of jobs and infrastructure. As the article notes: “…Most of the land deals documented by this study involved no[…]
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