UAE

"It's criminal that available land that can be properly irrigated and cultivated in a modern sense, where new techniques are tried and taught to local farmers, is not yet put into production," says Bob Geldof.

Richer countries that are investing in land abroad for food cultivation should also educate the poor about agricultural methods, so that food production can be increased to a level at which poor people can produce enough for investing countries as well as themselves, says Bob Geldof.

The UAE plans to hold further talks with officials from Australia with a view to invest in farmland as part of its plan to tackle food security.

UAE is ready to build small dams for cultivation on lands they would acquire in Pakistan, provided the government ensures that there is no ban on exports.

Sudan and UAE have agreed to concentrate investment in the field of agriculture, referring that the UAE Al-Thahra Company expressed desire to invest in Sudan as strategic partner in the food security projects.

Chinese and other eastern investors are looking to buy agriculture land and agribusiness across the globe, and Ukraine is increasingly on their radar.

Four months before South Sudan becomes an independant nation nine percent of the country has been targeted by investors, a Norwegian People's Aid report reveals.

The UAE and other Gulf states in collaboration with Singapore companies are entering the Chinese agriculture market to ensure food security.

Gulf states are following in the footsteps of China and looking beyond their shores to make heavy investments in agriculture

The company is currently looking at concluding another deal in Africa as well as other opportunities on behalf of regional investors for large scale production of crops in areas such as Africa, Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

Local food companies are not financially capable of investing in farmlands abroad to grow basic staples that would insulate them from soaring prices of raw materials, they said on the sidelines of Gulfood 2011.

Dubai business leaders have urged the Government to snap up farmland overseas to grow basic staples as a buffer against soaring food prices.