Australia

Chinese giant New Hope will invest up to $500 million in Australian dairy farms in what could be the first of many deals fuelled by the historic China-Australia free trade agreement.

Black River Asset Management, a subsidiary of Cargill, one of the world's biggest food producers, has bought four grain-producing farms in the Darling Downs farming region between Dalby and Chinchilla.

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart is teaming up with the China National Machinery Industry Corporation to acquire a 5,000 ha dairy farm in Queensland to supply infant formula to China.

Pressure is mounting on the Northern Territory Government to make land available for a Chinese company, as it struggles to progress environmental approvals and negotiate with the Indigenous Traditional Owners.

12.4 per cent of Australia’s agricultural land has some level of foreign ownership, with 95 per cent of this land in the hands of just 45 overseas companies.

Australia is the largest single beneficiary of rampant and unsustainable logging and land grabbing in Papua New Guinea, according to leading community activist group, ACT NOW!

In the face of various threats to land, Melanesian are struggling to retain control over Melanesia land. Join us in hearing their stories and learn how you can support their struggle.

Institutional investors are poised to make grabs for large farmland assets in ­Australia, according to local and ­offshore fund managers.

Australia's Trade Minister Andrew Robb has engaged in a fiery exchange with controversial radio broadcaster Alan Jones over foreign investment in agriculture.

There's no question that after five years of investing about $60 billion in the Australian resources and power sectors, the focus of Chinese investment is now on food.

China's ravenous demand for Australian beef could soon lead to some major cattle station purchases, with one of ­several Chinese importers, Snow Dragon Group, looking to buy land.

Some Australian farmers are voicing their concerns about the growing presence of foreign investment in their region.