Africa’s agrarian questions are not adequately addressed by simply asking, “What is the role of African smallholders?”

Oakland Institute speaks about the findings of their latest round of in-depth research into land grabs in Africa.

The much-discussed Congo land-lease, granting 200,000 hectares to South African farmers with a further 10 million hectares in the balance, appears to mark a departure from the usual terms underpinning foreign acquisition of fertile land by multinationals

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.

Stephen Marks looks at the latest rush by China and countries in the middle east to sign lease agreements in poor countries for agricultural production, and what this trend means in terms of food security and access to arable land for local populations.

BRICS states, except Russia, are enhancing and facilitating land grabs abroad in a way that is inconsistent with their proclamations of sustainable development, cooperation solidarity, and respect of national sovereignty.

Despite the African Union's commitment to strengthening women's access and control of land by placing land rights in the domain of human rights, it is silent on the issue of land grabs. This is a gap that the AU needs to plug.

En définissant comme "intérêt national" ou "bien national" des projets de développement liés à la terre, qui ne respectent pas la notion du droit au développement, qui génèrent des migrations et aboutissent à des violations inextricables des droits fondamentaux de la population et des communautés locales, les Etats abusent du pouvoir qui leur est octroyé aussi bien par la communauté nationale qu’internationale.