World Bank

Governments often justify these deals by citing their potential contribution to economic growth – however, any gains risk being greatly outweighed by negative impacts on local livelihoods, say WRI

The World Bank, UN agencies and governments are criticized for promoting agricultural investments that are resulting in land grabbing on a massive scale.

An immense coalition of peasant collectives and land-rights organisations stated that the Annual World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty happening here this weekend would likely sign thousands of hectares away from farming communities into the hands of industrial corporations.

Trying to compensate for the absence of legitimacy of these massive land deals by getting investors to adhere to a few principles is deceitful.

Intentar compensar la ausencia de legitimidad de estos negocios con tierras haciendo que los inversionistas se adhieran a unos cuantos principios es una estafa.

Tenter de pallier le manque de légitimité de ces acquisitions foncières en faisant adhérer les investisseurs à quelques principes n’est qu’une vaste supercherie.

There is a jobs cow waiting to be milked in Africa. It is agriculture and agri-business, says World Bank VP of Africa Region

Corporations and bankers do not believe in farming as a way of life; they believe in farming as a very profitable business that they control. Their goal is not to improve family farming in Africa, but to eradicate it.

The issue of land grabbing has been on the agenda for some years now, but it seems that the academic focus is changing.

Some claim it’s for food security, some say it’s a land grab

Since the food and financial crisis in 2008, a race for arable land has started worldwide. States, corporations, banks and funds of rich countries buy up large chunks of land to produce agrofuels and grow crops for food - or just to speculate.

A land grab is taking place all across Africa, a transfer of control unprecedented in the post-colonial era.