Australia

A report from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Research Economic and Sciences shows the amount of farmland that is either partly or wholly foreign-owned has increased by nearly 60 per cent since the early 1980s.

Report examines the driving factors behind foreign investment in Australian agriculture and describes processes by which foreign investment in farmland is monitored and regulated in Australia and other selected countries.

Chinese company presidents met with Australian officials and company reps in Sydney to discuss ag investments, ranging from a $25 million, 20,000 ha cotton farm to a $350 million farmland purchase in ­Western ­Australia and Queensland.

Geldanlagen in der Landwirtschaft sind gefragt. Der amerikanische Großinvestor Jim Rogers rät dazu, Ackerland kaufen. Und zwar in Australien.

The level and manner of foreign investment in Australian agriculture is sounding alarm bells amid growing concern that the nation's own food security could be compromised.

Foreign investment in agricultural assets would be subject to much greater scrutiny under a Coalition government, says Australia's shadow treasurer.

Overseas investors are snapping up prime agricultural land and rural enterprises, triggering concerns we're selling off the farm.

Foreign investors have spent a record $12 billion buying up Australian farmland and agricultural businesses over the past year, but have put off investing a further $14 billion until the outcome of a Senate inquiry in March 2012, a new report by Ferrier Hodgson says.

Tony Hales, managing director of Stadia Trustees, puts forward the case for including farmland in clients’ self-invested personal pensions (UK)

The Thai company is seeking to acquire four far north Queensland sugar mills, more than 6,000 hectares of agricultural land and other infrastructure assets owned by MSF Sugar

"The whole mess in Europe at the moment has increased demand for diversification products for the Asian markets," says Aquila CEO Roman Rosslenbroich, including farmland.

UK-based investors are planning a $400 million rural land fund to buy cotton and wheat properties in eastern Australia.