"We don't know enough yet in practice to formulate a very strong code of conduct," David Hallam, of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, told Reuters.

The boom in the acquisition of arable land in Africa by foreign companies and governments has stirred an international debate between international institutions such as the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and non-governmental groups and independent experts.

Japan's proposal to set up a set of common guidelines to promote smooth global investment in agriculture was endorsed by other leaders of the G8

IFAD is supporting a pilot initiative to promote properly structured ("win-win") agricultural land deals in Ghana.

A focus on agricultural productivity should not become a cover for foreign private companies to grab land or impose expensive, input-intensive methods in the name of modernisation.

The best practice proposal was criticised by development charity ActionAid UK. "The G8 plan to simply start discussing the topic is insufficient."

Lester Brown, the president of the Washington-based Earth Policy Institute, says even if the investor comes in wielding impressive, shiny new technology, it will be of little benefit to the small farm holder.

After having invested over 300 million euros for the acquisition of agricultural land alone, and another dozens of millions were invested in food industry, now Danish investors see a new opportunity on Romania’s market, namely the development of renewable energy parks

Prime Minister Taro Aso says he will call on world to develop principles promoting responsible foreign investment in agriculture in the face of "land grabs" of large-scale farmland in poor nations to ensure food supplies for wealthy nations.

AFD has taken the initiative of studying the possibility of creating an investment fund. This fund would make equity investments in responsible companies that invest in African agriculture.

Video from The Global Report reporting that the G8 will address land grabbing through win-win solutions

La FAO s’inquiète des violations des droits des paysans que ces accaparements de terres peuvent entraîner, et s’interroge sur la participation des populations locales aux bénéfices générés. Mais elle y voit avant tout une perspective de développement. Au profit de qui ?