In the face of growing economies and rising populations, food security is fast becoming a critical issue for GCC countries. Socio-political problems that arise from food price inflation and some related unrest witnessed in many countries of the Arab world have also created an added sense of urgency.

Elders has begun a sale of all its forestry plantations totalling 50,000ha across the country. Much of the land purchased is expected to be planted with sugar cane, bananas or returned to beef grazing, and COFCO and Wilmar International have indicated their interest.

SLC Agricola has bought its second farm in Brazil's Piaui state in less than two months, expanding into a relatively undeveloped area where land prices are a fraction of those in more popular regions.

Short video documentary about a massive takeover of agricultural lands in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian government has miserably failed to engage and convince citizens about the present and long-term implications of farmland grabbing.

Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Syncop Corporation of Korean for a $400 million investment deal in food production and other areas of agriculture.

Obtala's agriculture business Montara Continental intends to plant groundnuts, sunflower, sesame, soya and seed maize on 20,000 hectares.

There is a lot of focus on the growing global population and what it means for food demand. One result sees investors taking notice of returns on resources that provide food, including farmland.

The growing number of complaints from local communities, civil society organizations and the media about the activities of foreign investors in the country has got the government to unveil an investment monitoring unit

Cofco Ltd., China’s largest grains trader, said it is seeking overseas acquisitions to help secure supplies of commodities including soybeans, wheat and sugar as rising domestic incomes spur faster food demand growth.

The relationship between landowners and land on which people are living is not so clear in Africa, so the first thing we have to do is to survey lands and clarify the ownership of the land, says Korean diplomat.

Labour leader Phil Goff says, if elected as government on 26 November, his party would reverse the current approach so overseas buyers of farms would have to prove they offer additional value to the country.