The article examines the European share in large-scale land acquisitions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The paper aims to identify correlation between biofuels policy and large-scale land acquisitions in Sub-Saharan Africa and the consequences of this phenomenon. It first identifies the backgrounds that caused the increased interest in biofuel production and, consequently, African land acquisition in recent years. Then, it examines growth in the number of land transactions that take place on the continent. Finally, the paper investigates the share of European capital in land transactions.

In the last two decades, the best agricultural lands in Bolivia have been put into commercial production by large-scale producers closely linked to foreign investors, particularly Brazilians. Foreigners now control more than one million hectares of prime agricultural and ranching lands in Bolivia, primarily in the eastern lowland department of Santa Cruz, an important agroexport region dominated by transnational corporations and what has been termed “trans-Latina” corporations or TLCs.

Cities emerge from the spatial concentration of people and economic activities. But spatial concentration is not enough; the economic viability of cities depends on people, ideas, and goods to move rapidly across the urban area. This constant movement within dense cities creates wealth but also various degrees of unpleasantness and misery that economists call negative externalities, such as congestion, pollution, and environmental degradation.

How should African politicians respond to the ‘land rush’? Parliamentarians from the member states of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) met in mid-November to debate this question. Includes a collective response to agriculture and food security is needed, what land deals are underway in Central Africa?; investment and production, but for which markets?; impacts of land deals on Africa farmers; can Africa help secure the world’s food supply?; transparency isa precondition for inclusive investments; what should be done?

This is a Social Agreement posted on OpenLandContracts.org. It lists Timber (Wood) as the primary resource(s)

This is a Social Agreement posted on OpenLandContracts.org. It lists Timber (Wood) as the primary resource(s)

This is a Contrat de Concession Forestière posted on OpenLandContracts.org. It lists Timber (Wood) as the primary resource(s)

This is a Decree posted on OpenLandContracts.org. It lists Oil palm or palm oils,Oil palm products as the primary resource(s)

This is a Decree posted on OpenLandContracts.org. It lists Oil palm or palm oils,Oil palm products as the primary resource(s)

This is a Decree posted on OpenLandContracts.org. It lists Oil palm or palm oils,Oil palm products as the primary resource(s)

This is a Decree posted on OpenLandContracts.org. It lists Oil palm or palm oils,Oil palm products as the primary resource(s)

This is a Decree posted on OpenLandContracts.org. It lists Oil palm or palm oils,Oil palm products as the primary resource(s)