Synopses & Reviews
In recent years, large-scale land acquisitions in Africa have stoked controversy, making headlines across the world.
Dubbed 'land grabs' in the media, large-scale land acquisitions have become one of the most talked about and contentious topics amongst those studying, working in or writing about Africa. Some commentators have welcomed this corporate and government action in response to security and food shortage fears, others have countered by pointing to its negative impacts.
Lorenzo Cotula, one of the leading experts in the field, casts a critical eye over the most reliable available evidence on this hotly contested topic, examining the implications of land deals in Africa both for its people, and for world agriculture and food security in a shrinking planet.
Synopsis
Over the past few years, large-scale land acquisitions in Africa have stoked controversy, making headlines in media reports across the world. Land that only a short time ago seemed of little outside interest is now being sought by international investors to the tune of hundreds of thousands of hectares. Private-sector expectations of higher world food and commodity prices and government concerns about longer-term national food and energy security have both made land a more attractive asset.
Dubbed 'land grabs' in the media, large-scale land acquisitions have become one of the most talked about and contentious topics amongst those studying, working in or writing about Africa. Some commentators have welcomed this trend as a bearer of new livelihood opportunities. Others have countered by pointing to negative social impacts, including loss of local land rights, threats to local food security and the risk that large-scale investments may marginalize family farming.
Lorenzo Cotula, a leading expert in the field, casts a critical eye over the most reliable evidence on this hotly contested topic, examining the implications of land deals in Africa both for its people and for world agriculture and food security.
About the Author
Lorenzo Cotula is a senior researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), a policy research institute based in the UK. Lorenzo leads IIED's Land Rights Team, undertakes research and policy advocacy on land rights and on investment in agriculture and extractive industries, and coordinates a multi-country program to strengthen local capacity to get a better deal from natural resource investment. Before joining IIED in 2002, Lorenzo worked on assignments with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN and with two Italian NGOs. He holds a Law Degree (cum laude) from the University 'La Sapienza' of Rome, an MSc in Development Studies (Distinction) from the London School of Economics, and a PhD from the University of Edinburgh.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Historical roots of the land rush
3. Scale, geography and drivers of the land rush
4. 'Land grabbing' in the shadow of the law
5. Winners and losers
6. Conclusion