Face aux difficultés enregistrées en Afrique, les pays du Golfe réorientent leur stratégie d’investissement agricole vers des territoires moins risqués, notamment les États-Unis et l'Europe de l'Est.

The desert states of the Gulf are changing tack in their multi-billion dollar search for food security.

Le Kenya est le pays où a commencé cette ruée vers les terres fertiles africaines. Le sujet y reste tabou quand il n'est pas un instrument politique. Reportage du JDD.

Rachat de la JAT, devenue Air Serbia, par Etihad, investissements massifs de la compagnie Al-Dahra en Voïvodine : les Émirats arabes unis sont en passe de devenir le premier investisseur étranger en Serbie. D’où vient un tel emballement ?

Al Dahra Agriculture, a private-sector partner of the UAE Government in securing key food staples, is targeting investments in coffee and sugar plantations in Brazil, Colombia and Chile, said the company's vice chairman.

As well as plans to build silos to store key commodities, the Government's approach includes partnering private sector players such as Al Dahra Agriculture to secure overseas land.

Global rules for investment in agriculture need to be overhauled, Sultan Al Mansouri, the UAE Minister of Economy, said yesterday, as signs emerge of rising barriers to the flow of investment around the world.

Hesham Al Shirawi, Chairman of Economic Zones World, mooted the idea of establishing free zones for agri-business in Africa during the Africa Global Business Forum 2013. The establishment of corn farms is also a lucrative business proposition, he added.

Pressed on which countries in Africa would be suitable food sources, Hisham Abdullah Al Shirawi, the chairman of Economic Zones World, says the test would be countries where water was in abundance and which were not spoilt by strife.

"The UAE is looking not just at land [acquisitions] but developing the whole supply chain," says Nicholas Lodge, managing partner at Clarity, a consultancy that advises on investments in agricultural industries.

New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs says his country can be a logical partner for resource-rich Gulf countries as a producer of food in places like Africa, where experts say half of the potential agricultural land is under-utilised.

The intended aim is to meet Abu Dhabi's vision and strategy for long-term food security.