A spate of controversial land acquisitions in Africa is a direct result of lack of investment by poorer governments and may worsen global trade distortions, the head of the world's leading farming lobby said on Monday.

Yes Bank expects a $150 million Tanzanian rice and wheat project to reach full production by 2011, the first of several large African farms it is funding. "We are looking at a more inclusive model wherein the local farmers can be organised into a producers company, and they would be the suppliers to the processing facility. It's predominantly not to acquire huge tracts of land."

Sudan and China are expected to sign a number of joint projects in the agricultural field

Ghadimi said it was easier to control immigrant workers in the UAE than farm labourers in Iran, where unions were strong.

Turkish Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker says to Arab investors, "We have made maps of all our lands. Take and cultivate which you want."

Saudi-based Almarai has agreed to buy Egyptian firm Beyti for $115 million, allowing a new joint venture with Pepsico to set foot in the Arab world's most populous nation. The price tag includes a 75-hectare piece of land.

A memorandum of understanding and cooperation will be signed between the Federation of GCC Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Companies from the US and the UAE are interested in establishing large farms in Zambia to grow sugar and grains, the country's agriculture minister said

An investor analysis of the case for buying up farmland

De Schutter said that instead of ceding millions of hectares to foreign investors, by sale or on long-term leases, the possibility of contract farming should be explored.

The Government of Laos has granted a major Thai investor a 10,000 ha concession in two central provinces of Laos to grow sugarcane.

"The rush for land by outside players is more proof of the enormous potential of African agriculture. Africa itself must harness this potential," Kofi Annan says