The international political economy of the global land rush: A critical appraisal of trends, scale, geography and drivers

TLDR

Agribusiness, investment funds, and governments are increasingly acquiring long‑term farmland rights in lower‑income countries, driven by expectations of higher commodity prices and food‑security concerns, with potentially lasting impacts on global agriculture and local livelihoods. The study critically examines trends, scale, geography, and drivers of the global land rush, arguing that a solid grasp of these drivers is essential for identifying policy levers to mitigate its challenges. The analysis confirms some common assumptions but reveals a more complex set of drivers, reflecting fundamental shifts in economic and geopolitical relations among sovereign states, global finance, agribusiness, and local groups.

Abstract

Over the past few years, agribusiness, investment funds and government agencies have been acquiring long-term rights over large areas of farmland in lower income countries. It is widely thought that private sector expectations of higher agricultural commodity prices and government concerns about longer-term food and energy security underpin much recent land acquisition for agricultural investments. These processes are expected to have lasting and far-reaching implications for world agriculture and for livelihoods and food security in recipient countries. This paper critically examines evidence of trends, scale, geography and drivers in the global land rush. While this analysis broadly corroborates some widespread assumptions, it also points to a more complex set of drivers that reflect fundamental shifts in economic and geopolitical relations linking sovereign states, global finance, and agribusiness through to local groups. Only a solid understanding of these fundamental drivers can help identify levers and pressure points for policy responses to address the challenges raised by large-scale land acquisitions.