European Union governments want to develop a global code of conduct for foreign investments in agricultural land in developing countries, according to a draft paper on food security seen by Reuters.
Saudi Arabia is attempting to strengthen its position in what seems certain to be a growing competition for food among the nations of the Middle East.
"Our country has rich agricultural resources, which could provide steady food security to Saudi Arabia," said Akinde Rene Robert
The Omani government is weighing options for securing part of the country's requirement of strategic staples through offshore farming
An upcoming World Bank (WB) report aims at giving legitimate cover to agricultural land grabbing in Pakistan.
The worsening of hoarding of land and oceans by economic groups, corporations and both state and private speculative capital are some of the most serious and imminent attacks faced by people.
Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, says that while foreign investment in agriculture is increasing, “We have to recognize that potential risks, such as land grab, may pose serious threats to developing country farmers.”
I am worried. A consensus is emerging among international institutions about the need to guide investment in agriculture. But at the same time, many civil society groups and farmers’ organisations, including the most representative among them, denounce ‘land-grabbing’.
The fund aims to deliver long-term returns by investing in agribusiness companies (those involved in the production, processing, distribution and marketing of agricultural products).
"Future agriculture hectares for Saudi Arabia will be outside of the country," says president of agricultural services company ARASCO.
New report by Oakland Institute exposes the role of the World Bank’s private sector branch, International Finance Corporation, in fueling land grabs.
We, the peasants and small farmers of the world, do not need agribusiness and international investment schemes to eat.
