L'AQUILA, Italy (AFP) — G8 leaders are to draw up "best practice" guidelines over the leasing of African farmland by foreign countries and corporations, according to a draft communique seen by AFP Wednesday.
"We will work with partner countries and international organisations to develop a joint proposal on principles and best practices for international agricultural investment," said the draft Development and Africa communique which is set to be agreed upon at an ongoing G8 summit in Italy.
Following recent food price rises, countries including China, South Korea and Gulf states as well as some companies have started buying land in Africa to ensure stable food supplies.
G8 leaders are expected to discuss Africa and development issues Friday, when they will be joined by African leaders including South African President Jacob Zuma and international organisations.
But the best practice proposal was criticised by development charity ActionAid UK.
Meredith Alexander, its head of G8 policy, said: "Land grabbing takes farmland from local communities and food from the hungry. The G8 plan to simply start discussing the topic is insufficient."
The draft communique also said the leaders would promote gender equality as a "key issue for aid effectiveness".
It also said: "We are determined to exercise and share leadership to promote development through an inclusive approach to globalisation."
