Over the past few years, large-scale land acquisitions in Africa have stoked controversy, making headlines in media reports across the world. Land that only a short time ago seemed of little outside interest is now being sought by international investors to the tune of hundreds of thousands of hectares. Private-sector expectations of higher world food and commodity prices and government concerns about longer-term national food and energy security have both made land a more attractive asset. Dubbed ‘land grabs’ in the media, large-scale land acquisitions have become one of the most talked about and contentious topics amongst those studying, working in or writing about Africa. Some commentators have welcomed this trend as a bearer of new livelihood opportunities. Others have countered by pointing to negative social impacts, including loss of local land rights, threats to local food security and the risk that large-scale investments may marginalize family farming. Lorenzo Cotula, a leading expert in the field, casts a critical eye over the most reliable evidence on this hotly contested topic, examining the implications of land deals in Africa both for its people and for world agriculture and food security.
| ISBN: | 9781780324203 |
| Publication date: | 11th July 2013 |
| Author: | Lorenzo Cotula |
| Publisher: | Zed Books Ltd an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 248 pages |
| Series: | African Arguments |
| Genres: |
Development studies Agribusiness and primary industries Human geography Economic geography |
Over the past few years, large-scale land acquisitions in Africa have stoked controversy, making headlines in media reports across the world. Land that only a short time ago seemed of little outside interest is now being sought by international investors to the tune of hundreds of thousands of hectares. Private-sector expectations of higher world food and commodity prices and government concerns about longer-term national food and energy security have both made land a more attractive asset. Dubbed ‘land grabs’ in the media, large-scale land acquisitions have become one of the most talked about and contentious topics amongst those studying, working in or writing about Africa. Some commentators have welcomed this trend as a bearer of new livelihood opportunities. Others have countered by pointing to negative social impacts, including loss of local land rights, threats to local food security and the risk that large-scale investments may marginalize family farming. Lorenzo Cotula, a leading expert in the field, casts a critical eye over the most reliable evidence on this hotly contested topic, examining the implications of land deals in Africa both for its people and for world agriculture and food security.
The Great African Land Grab? features in the following genres: Development studies, Agribusiness and primary industries, Human geography, Economic geography
The Great African Land Grab? is available in Hardback, Paperback
The Great African Land Grab? was written by Lorenzo Cotula and published by Zed Books Ltd an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
The Great African Land Grab? has 248 pages
Yes it is part of African Arguments series