The rapid rise of foreign direct investments (FDI) in land not only awakens new hopes of overcoming the decades of under-financing of the agricultural sector but also constitutes a new threat to food and income security for rural peoples. Based on GTZ case studies, the article demonstrates the different impacts large-scale land investments can have. Information on land-use rights in Cambodia, investment climate and regulation in Laos, FDI in land in Madagascar and the socio-ecological risks of land concessions in Mali illustrate that stronger regulation is necessary if long-term negative impacts are to be minimised.
 
Susanne Väth
Research Fellow
Philipps-University Marburg
Marburg, Germany
vaeth@wiwi.uni-marburg.de