The International Food Policy Research Institute report highlights “agricolonialism” for biofuels

A report at workers.org highlighted large-scale corporate and national purchases of farmlands for biofuels, in what it termed “agricolonialism.” The report quoted research from the The International Food Policy Research Institute that “37 million to 49 million acres of land in poor countries, valued at $20 to $30 billion, were sold or under negotiation for sale to foreign buyers since 2006.”

Noted players include a $200 million land investment hedge fund from Blackrock, 100,000 acres of Brazilian farmland purchased by Morgan Stanley, two farmland investment funds from George Soros partner Jim Rogers Jr. The report also looks at an FAO analysis is 6.2 million acres in Africa purchased by foreign investors since 2004, and major purchases in Asia.

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