Rising Global Interest in Farmland: Can It Yield Sustainable and Equitable Benefits?

As rising food and fuel prices create incentives for large-scale land acquisitions around the world, it is more important than ever for governments and the international community to protect local land rights. Strong and clear land rights make it more likely for existing owners to directly negotiate with investors, obtain higher payments for land transfers and make sure investments benefit the public and the local economy. For investors, respecting existing land rights is key to legitimate and economically viable projects. The research came after some countries asked the Bank to help deal with large-scale land acquisitions, around which a lack of data has sparked confusion and speculation. Bank officials say if such acquisitions go ahead, as is happening already, governments should protect the interests of locals, especially smallholders and secondary landholders who depend on the land for a living. That’s because measures such as improving smallholder productivity – combined with technology investment, infrastructure and new markets – will prove critical to food security and rural poverty reduction, especially in Africa. The Bank worked with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and other stakeholders, and used early findings from the research to develop seven voluntary principles for responsible agro investment that respects rights, livelihoods and resources. The Bank is working with countries and other stakeholders to translate these principles into practice.

Author(s): The World Bank

Rising Global Interest in Farmland.WB_Sept_2010.pdf — PDF document, 2535 kB (2596213 bytes)