The global land rush.

AuthorAydemir, Sumeyra
PositionThe Global Farms Race: Land Grabs, Agricultural Investments, and the Scramble for Food Security - Book review

The Global Farms Race: Land Grabs, Agricultural Investments, and the Scramble for Food Security

Michael Kugelman and Susan L. Levenstein

(Washington, DC: Island Press, 2013), 248 pages.

The Global Farms Race: Land Grabs, Agricultural Investments, and the Scramble for Food Security surveys research and offers insight into the latest investments in agricultural land in the international arena and assesses impacts and long-term political, economic, and social implications on local communities. The book consists of a compilation of essays by academics, consultants, and investors from international organizations, governments, and think tanks that have a diverse set of opinions on the world's "land rush." Many view these investments as a perpetuation of neo-colonial practices of land acquisition, while others view them as another facet of globalization and purport the positive effects this practice has on developing economies by introducing new skills and technology, for instance. The book provides the reader with an overview of large-scale land acquisitions, citing many different arguments regarding the surge of agricultural land investments in foreign nations.

Investments in arable land have surged in the past few years, as wealthy governments and private investors flock to countries upon recognizing the potential market and the possibility of high returns. These regions include areas in Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and some parts of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Sourcing viewpoints from both those critical of the practice and those engaging in it, the book contextualizes the current rush in history. Pro-investment advocates claim that such investments benefit local communities by bringing new resources, technology, and training. Those more critical of these practices, however, argue that present-day contracts are a result of the paternalistic power dynamics between the western world and former colonies. They cite negative consequences, such as displaced communities, environmental destruction--including impacts on biodiversity and water consumption--and political unrest that arise from the inherently unequal power relationships in these bargains.

To avoid high costs associated with wages and imports from some countries, many governments are investing in overseas lands. One failure was the proposed acquisition of 1.3 million hectares of farmland in Madagascar--half of the country's arable farmland--by Daewoo, a South...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT