Africa 'land grab': good news or bad news for Africans?

In the UK, the Guardian offers a fascinating assessment of the pros and cons of the “land grab” occurring in Africa as Chinese and European firms acquire “fertile African land, a 99-year lease, and all for $1 [per hectare] a year. Think about it: crop prices are soaring, land is appreciating and import-dependent rich nations virtually guarantee you a never-ending export market.”

According to the Guardian’s report, Critics call it “land grabbing,” or “neo-colonialism” while “proponents, including some at the World Bank, see overseas investment in foreign farmland, particularly in Africa, as a way to modernise agriculture there, bringing more food and profits to the local population.”

More on the story.

Tags: Africa, biofuels, neo-colonialism

Category: International