Ethiopia

Karuturi Global Ltd. may receive an additional 200,000 hectares (494,211 acres) of land from the Ethiopian government if its current 100,000-hectare concession is developed within two years, the Agriculture Ministry said.

Ethiopia achieved positive results in the agriculture sector, which in turn led to improved domestic production and better environmental standards, says UNCTAD.

"The reports claiming that the Government of Ethiopia has reduced the land concession given to Karuturi Global, are completely baseless," says Sai Ramakrishna Karuturi, Founder & MD, Karuturi Global.

Ethiopia slashed the size of Karuturi’s land concession that was larger than Luxembourg on concern it was too big for a single company to manage and to enable an annual migration of antelope, the government said.

Film traces the story of the current mad race for control of farmlands, and the consequences it could have if nothing is done to protect the interests of small farmers and developing countries.

The World Food Program intends to buy some of the grain produced in Ethiopia by foreign investors in order to assist hungry people. Ironically, this group of intended food aid recipients will include those working to produce it in the first place. Ethiopia's government is calling this sustainable development.

On assiste depuis quelques années à une véritable envolée des investissements agricoles dans le monde en développement.

Les crises alimentaire et financière qui ont secoué le monde en 2008 ont eu un effet méconnu du public. Elles ont provoqué une incroyable course pour la mainmise sur les terres cultivables partout dans le monde.

Arte diffuse une longue et passionnante enquête d’Alexis Marant (Capa) sur un juteux business : l’achat des terres agricoles au nom du fric plus que de la bataille contre la faim.

Au cœur du problème, la grande opacité de termes des accords passés entre les Etats et les grandes firmes.

"The farmland that we are transferring to foreign investors is not the land that is being used by the locals," asserts Yaregal Aysheshum, former president of the Benshangul Gumuz Regional State in Ethiopia

Entretien avec le réalisateur Alexis Marant pour son documentaire "Planète à vendre" diffusé mardi 19 avril à 20h40 sur Arte (France Inter)