April 21st, 2009
As reported by Stratfor (subscription required), China added agricultural investments to its “go outward” strategy in 2008, under which domestic businesses are encouraged to venture into foreign markets. As global food prices continue soaring, food security has catapulted to the top of Beijing’s priority list alongside energy and other key resources. As the article notes:[…]
Read more »Rent-A-Country: The End of Food Isolationism
April 12th, 2009
Via Time, an interesting article on the growing phenomenon of countries seeking fertile land outside of their borders for food production. As the article notes: “…Take a moment to consider breakfast, the most important meal of the day. Maybe you grabbed a banana or ate a bowl of granola. Whatever it was, chances are that[…]
Read more »April 12th, 2009
Via Arabian Business, a report on a recent agreement under which Indonesia will allocate at least two million hectares (4.9m acres) of farm land to joint ventures with Saudi investors, to be used mainly for the cultivation of rice. As the article notes: “…The move would turn Indonesia into the world’s top rice exporter in[…]
Read more »An African Landgrab In The Name Of Ethanol?
April 12th, 2009
Via Mother Jones, an interesting (frightening?) report on a massive African ethanol project that would – if implemented – consume an enormous amount of agricultural land. As the article notes: “Massingir is an unremarkable town. The electricity supply here in rural Mozambique is erratic, clean water is hard to come by, and the hotels—well, calling[…]
Read more »April 12th, 2009
More from Jim Rogers on farm land: “…I am buying greenfield land in Brazil and existing farms in Canada and starting to farm it. The funds are clearing the land, fertilizing it, irrigating it and hiring farmers and some day will probably sell the land but that is a remote prospect.”
Read more »Global Agriculture: No Longer ‘Cheap As Dirt’
April 12th, 2009
Via Seeking Alpha, a very insightful article on the emerging shortage in fertile soil. As the report notes: “Taking the long view, we are running out of dirt.”— David R. Montgomery, geologist Over the summer, Iran bought a large amount — more than a million tons — of wheat from the U.S. That’s something we’ve[…]
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