"Some Saudi princes told president Lula they do not want to invest in agriculture in Brazil in order to sell here in Brazil, they want food supply sources," says Brazilian minister of Development Miguel Jorge
"Agricultural land owned by Indians in a foreign country with captive markets locally, and as an opportunity to export to India, is of interest to us," says Shashi Tharoor
Despite government assurances, the possibility that China could possess Kazakhstani territory leaves many citizens skittish
Reports indicate that the Gulf States have acquired more than 150,000 hectares of land in Balochistan near Mirani Dam to begin mechanised farming.
The government is aiming to attract less than Rp 100 trillion (US$10.6 billion) in investment through the development of three special economic zones (SEZs) producing agricultural products this year.
Call for papers for an international conference to be held at Groningen University, Netherlands, 28-29 October 2010.
The worldwide financial crisis has reportedly stalled several agricultural deals between Gulf countries and overseas partners, including two between Bahrain and Pakistan.
Entrevue avec Arnaud Zacharie, directeur du Centre national de coopération développement (CNCD, Belgique)
Fears of a land grab by wealthier western EU countries prompted Hungary, and most of the members that joined in 2004, to negotiate temporary derogations in the case of agricultural land. The derogation is due to expire in May 2011.
While the proposed deal brings up ethical questions of exploitation, another concern is how it will impact earth changes and food security in the future.
The State has stepped up the drive to buy idle land to make available to investors, hoping to snap up vast fallow land across the Rift Valley and Coast provinces and towns near Nairobi.
Presentations from a meeting organised by the Global Donor Platform on Rural Development and FAO/SDC/IFAD, where today's largescale farmland acquisitions figured high on the agenda
