Agricultrual Investment In The Developing World: A Framework For Cooperation And Agreement

I am convinced that farmland is going to be one of the best investments of our time"

George Soros, June 2009

Amid accusations of "farmland grabs" and "neo-colonisation" and against the background of widespread world hunger and a food crisis, which is being exacerbated by loss of land to biofuels, rising consumer expectations and world population growth, the next great natural resource play is under way – large scale, often government-to-government promoted, agricultural development in both food and biofuels. This paper addresses the practical issues which will need to be addressed in reconciling national policy and the needs of both foreign and domestic investors investing in large scale agricultural development projects, involving the grant of rights by a government or its agencies.