The Kiel Institute suggests that if such investments are governed more effectively, land acquisitions can provide the developing world with positive opportunities.

Olam's acquisition includes five estates on 5,866 hectares of land in northern Zambia's Kasama district.

African Development Bank (AfDB) country director, Freddie Kwesiga, said the co-operating partners look forward to specific interventions to ensure improved land tenure and equitable access to land by partnerships of small, medium and large-scale investors.

A senior government official in Serenje has urged the Zambia Development Agency to quicken the process of facilitating investment inflow in the 155,000-hectare Nansanga farm block in Central Province.

African nations like Zambia, Ethiopia and Mozambique invited Indian investors to invest in various sectors, especially in agriculture, saying this has the potential to provide food to both Africa and India.

Zambia's Vice-President Guy Scott calls on private companies in the country to invest in agriculture and commercialise the sector to boost production of more maize for export.

Chayton already produces 10% of Zambia's soya and 5% of the country's wheat. Over the next 12 months, production will increase to at least 35% and 15% respectively.

Neil Crowder of Chayton Capital tells the BBC that farming in Africa can be very profitable - just wait till you hear how much he expects investors will make. But will it also benefit Africans?

The six case studies compiled in this report illustrate the wide range of approaches and focus that private funds are adopting (legal structure, geography, agricultural production and operating strategies) to invest in farmland in different parts of the world.

As more and more fertile lands and rivers are in the hands of few investors, some villagers in southern Africa have started experiencing food shortages, a situation which was not there before.

Neil Crowder - CEO Chayton Africa presenting on Investing in Zambia's agriculture - Zambia Investment Forum London 2011

Research released today by the Oakland Institute demonstrates that land grabs--largely unregulated land deals involving foreign corporations and speculators--continue to be promoted as a "development" solution for African nations.