L'esplosione del farmland grab

• Liberal
• 29 September 2009

Dar won't host major conference

• The Citizen
• 29 September 2009

An Afro-Arab agriculture conference on farm investment, which was to take place in Zanzibar, has been cancelled due to the Tanzanian governmnt's 11th hour refusal to host it.

Indians go in search of El Dorado

• Times of India
• 29 September 2009

The Solvent Extractors Association, the Indian oilseeds industry body, has formed a consortium of 18 companies to acquire 10,000 hectares of prime farmland in a $40-million deal in Uruguay and Paraguay to cultivate oilseeds and pulses. The association says they are hamstrung only by access to finance, otherwise they have it all sewn up.

“Land grabs” for rice production due to supply threats

• IRRI
• 28 September 2009

IRRI is not involved in any projects on land acquisition for rice production, nor does it provide advice on land acquisition, but it does find ways to help increase the overall rice supply

Agriculture wins pension fund mandates

• Financial Standard
• 28 September 2009

Key areas of investment interest from pension and sovereign wealth funds in UK, Middle East, Europe and the US include agriculture land in Australia, South and North America, and throughout Europe.

UAE investors help plant hopes for Sudan’s revival

• The National
• 28 September 2009

As part of its policy of food security, Abu Dhabi acquired 30,000 hectares of land last June through its development fund to grow alfalfa, which is used to feed cattle, and other crops such as corn.

Kenya: Govt blamed for persistent food crisis

• Daily Nation
• 27 September 2009

Small scale farmers have accused the Kenyan Government of failing to act to address persistent food insecurity. They also opposed the leasing of agricultural land to foreigners.

Sayegh: Now is the right time to start new businesses

• Business 24/7
• 27 September 2009

"We have acquired a very large piece of agricultural land in the Nile Delta – a 15,000 sq km tract of land where we will be producing for international markets, including the Arab World."

The constant gardener

• Times of India
• 26 September 2009

He owns land eight times the size of Mumbai, most of it in distant Ethiopia. His company, Karuturi Global, figures among the top 25 agri transnational corporations. But he wants more -- to break into the top 10 and rub shoulders with the likes of ConAgro and Cargill.

The new landlords

• Times of India
• 26 September 2009

Ramakrishna Karuturi does not feature on any international power list. Perhaps he should.

Nigeria: Anambra Signs MOU On Rice Production with VAADC

• Vanguard
• 25 September 2009

In a bid to boost rice production, the government of Anambra is to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Vietnam Africa Agricultural Development Company (VAADC) to begin mechanised production of rice.

Palm oil developers in Papua New Guinea accused of deception in dealing with communities

• Mongabay
• 25 September 2009

While Cargill says it is committed to sustainable and responsible palm oil production across its three plantations in PNG, the firm has been targeted by local and international NGOs, which claim it has polluted rivers and deceived local communities into signing agreements they do not understand.

Government says no land deal with South Korea

• The Citizen
• 25 September 2009

The government of Tanzania has refuted media reports indicating that it has leased out 1000 square kilometres of farmland to South Koreans.

Québec : Des investisseurs chinois lorgnent des terres agricoles

• Argent
• 25 September 2009

Des investisseurs chinois lorgnent des terres dans la région de Saint-Hyacinthe.

Korea shifting to agricultural aid in resource diplomacy

• Joong Ang Daily
• 25 September 2009

The Korea Rural Community Corporation, under the Agriculture Ministry, said it is also in talks with other resource-rich countries about deals in exchange for support for the construction of agricultural infrastructure or farms. Among the negotiating partners mentioned were Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Senegal and Mongolia.