Opening Government: Land Transparency13/09/2011
Contributor: Global Witness
Land is a public good from a human security, economic and environmental perspective. Governance of land, especially at a time of rising global demand for food, fuel, fibre and mineral resources, is becoming increasingly critical. It has been estimated that global food demand will increase by 70% by 2050, requiring net investments in agriculture 50% above current levels. Global large-scale investments in farmland in particular have already begun to escalate: in 2009 investment reached 45 million hectares alone, up from an average annual expansion rate of only 4 million hectares leading up to 2008. In terms of meeting future food needs, 80% of future arable land expansion is predicted to take place in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, however the same regions expect a reduction in available arable land by the end of the 21st century due to climate change and population growth.
Large-scale land acquisitions by domestic, international, private and public actors are presented by investors and governments as win-win solutions: simultaneously providing local employment opportunities; transfer of technologies to developing countries; and profitable financial returns. In fact, they can lead to significant negative impacts on local access to and control over natural resources, household economies and food security; frequently involve human rights violations; as well as driving deforestation and environmental destruction.