The demonstrators say the global lender’s principles of responsible agricultural investment, known as RAI, fail in their stated objective to protect rights of small farmers.

Uncertainty continues over the rules that will govern foreign ownership of Brazilian farmland in the future. Indeed, the debate seems to have regressed and polarized over the last six months with legislators locked over the constitutionality of restrictions.

New studies released in London today suggest that the frenzied sell-off of forests and other prime lands to buyers hungry for the developing world's natural resources risk sparking widespread civil unrest—unless national leaders and investors recognize the customary rights of millions of poor people who have lived on and worked these lands for centuries.

Kwara State Governor Ahmed has signed and MOU with Vasolar Consortium of Spain for the cultivation, processing and packaging of rice, with the state providing 20,000 ha of land.

The six case studies compiled in this report illustrate the wide range of approaches and focus that private funds are adopting (legal structure, geography, agricultural production and operating strategies) to invest in farmland in different parts of the world.

The extent of the surge in UK farmland prices has driven foreign buyers and pension funds to the sidelines, leaving farmers to pay prices more than double those three years ago, property consultancy Savills said.

Karuturi Agro Products Plc, part of holding company Karuturi Glolabal Ltd, is planning to go public, floating 200,000 shares worth 1,000 Br each to Ethiopian investors, once it gets the nod from its board of directors.

An influx of foreign funds seeking Australian farmland has pushed lawmakers to consider legislation that would increase scrutiny of overseas purchases after foreign ownership of land almost doubled since 1984.

Russia is willing to discuss leasing farm land in the Far East to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member countries. The Ministry for Economic Development has stated that a group of 20 projects is intended to bring in tens of billions of dollars in investments.

Response from Briony Mathieson, Olam International

Singapore's commodity trader Olam International is partnering with Russian Dairy Company LCC in the dairy and grains business and will jointly invest $400 million in Russia over the next five years.

Bargain prices on Ethiopia's prime farmland! Who's down for some land grabbing?! Anybody?