Singapore plans to help develop a $16 billion agricultural project in northeastern China as the city-state aims to boost its food security.

Singapore could gain access to a major new source of meat, fruit and vegetables if a massive new farming project in north-eastern China takes off

Chayton Capital, a UK-based company, is to invest US$20 million in the purchase and expansion of six irrigated farms in various parts of Zambia to enhance growth in the agriculture sector

Un Collection Repères par Pain pour le Prochain et Action de Carème

The Fund will operate according to a Socially Responsible Investment Manual that features, for the first time in the area of Agribusiness private equity, a Code of Conduct for Land Acquisition and Land Use in Agricultural and Agribusiness Projects to prevent unsustainable practices in land acquisition and land use.

Bunge says investor interest in farmland ownership appeared to be growing, and Bunge was aiming to draw more than $100 million in investor dollars to its land fund.

Participants agreed on the importance of an open and inclusive dialogue to continue encouraging responsible agricultural investment by various parties.

In Brazil, El Tejar and others are investing in ownership and hope to capture land appreciation. BrasilAgro brags that it sold one farm for a gain of 116 percent in just 17 months.

Since the land acquisition will be by private parties only, the chances of such purchase becoming a political issue are remote, officials feel.

"Local businessmen make deals with foreign investors and convince tribal authorities in the area to give them land, but the water from the river is not just for people to take," says Water Affairs Under Secretary A. Nehemia who had not been informed about the farm.

A German investment fund that bought a majority interest in a Southland dairy farm, Aquila Capital's AgrarInvest, also has shareholdings in three other Kiwi dairy companies.

Gulf nations hope science will turn desert areas into arable land to boost food security and avoid the risks inherent in buying farmland abroad.