Under the guise of ‘conflict mediation’ and community empowerment, the work of certain corporate NGOs results in communities continuing without access to and control over their lands, and in strengthening destructive production models.
The Schmidt Agricola family business is planning a 10,000-hectare cocoa farm in the Brazilian state of Bahia, where similar super-sized cocoa farms are also under development in partnership with large cocoa companies like Cargill and Barry Callebaut.
Plantations et Huileries du Congo, the DRC’s leading palm oil producer, plans to exponentially increase its palm oil production, but this strategy could exacerbate land conflicts.
La Repubblica Democratica del Congo (RDC) sta aumentando la coltivazione di olio di palma, con l'idea di diventare un Paese esportatore e di affacciarsi alla produzione di biocombustibili, rischiando però di mettere a repentaglio la sopravvivenza di intere comunità e di creare nuovi conflitti, in un Paese già ai primi posti delle classifiche mondiali per fame e insicurezza alimentare.
Les gendarmes camerounais ont, à la fin du mois de mars, fait usage de gaz lacrymogènes pour disperser des villageois qui manifestaient contre la replantation de palmiers à huile sur des terres en litige.
En Europe, l'appropriation de terres agricoles par d'autres acteurs, tels que des investisseurs et des supermarchés, suscite des inquiétudes en faisant grimper les prix et en réduisant l'accès des futurs agriculteurs, ainsi qu'en menaçant la sécurité alimentaire et la durabilité de l'UE.
In Europe, the appropriation of agricultural land by other actors, such as investors and supermarkets, raises concerns by driving up prices and reducing access for future farmers, as well as threatening food security and the sustainability of the EU.
Bloomberg's Big Take podcast looks at an investigation into allegations of sexual coercion at plantations run by Socfin, a rubber company supplying top tiremakers.
Hubert Fabri and Vincent Bolloré own plantations accused of land appropriation and labor abuses. Their company says it has taken steps to improve matters, but a trip to West Africa shows sexual coercion claims remain widespread.
Prima Wawona, the one-time largest peach producer in the world, financially rotted in the few years after private equity players took control. A former owner wants to know how.
Global demand for arable land is rising, making Africa a key target for large-scale acquisitions to tackle food and energy challenges.
The investment arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has bought a fourth major Aussie cropping aggregation.
