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Land grabbing in Africa: an introduction

Explore the complex phenomenon of land grabbing in Africa, its drivers, actors, and impacts on food security and biofuel production. This book delves into case studies from Ethiopia, Mali, and Madagascar, revealing the risks and consequences of large-scale land acquisitions by foreign entities. Learn how the 21st-century land rush is reshaping Africa's agricultural landscape and fueling controversies around biofuel production. Gain insights into the role of governments, investors, and multinational corporations in securing land for food supplies and economic interests in the continent.

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Land grabbing in Africa: an introduction

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  1. Land grabbing in Africa: an introduction Melvin Swarts 13 September 2017

  2. Content • Land grabbing as new Scramble for African land • What is Land grabbing? • The Drivers and Actors in Land grabbing • Overseas Land Investments to Secure Food Supplies • 21 century Land Rush & Africa up for grabs ( Maps & selected case studies) • Renewed interest in Biofuels • Biofuels, Land Grabbing and Food Security in Africa [ BOOK] 2011- Unmasking the impacts of land grabbing in parts of Africa- i.e. the risks • Continuation of Biofuel production in 4 African states • South African case ( caution) but implications for the Underutilized land concept • CASE STUDIES: Ethiopia, Mali, Madagascar • Further Reading

  3. NOT REFERRING TO THIS ‘LAND GRAB’ CONCEPT IN RECENT SA NEWSPAPERS Zuma Promises No Zimbabwe-Style Land Grabs President Jacob Zuma has told Parliament that land redistribution will happen within the bounds of the law. 02/06/2017 10:04 SAST | Updated 02/06/2017 10:17 SAST ‘We are gearing up for numerous land grabs across SA’ – BLF are coming for the land Zim time? By Nic Andersen - July 20, 2017

  4. What is ‘land grabbing’? • Primarily refers to large-scale land acquisitions following the 2007-2008 world food price crisis • “the buying or leasing of large pieces of land in developing countries, by domestic and transnational companies/ MNC, governments, and wealthy individuals” • LAND DEALS- vary in YEARS & SIZE 20-30 years (renewable) - 99 year leases & 1000- 500 000 ha • Other definitions: ‘large-scale land acquisitions’ by foreign countries and investors ( could be local) ‘large-scale land-based investments’ (World Bank/UN/ EU prefers - 7 guidelines e.g. FPIC) ‘responsible agricultural investment’- • Terminology is political – has implications for interpretation and response e.g. Why we calling it ‘Grabbing’ which implies appropriation, if it is investments? .

  5. The Drivers & Actors in Land Grabbing • Emerged in response to the expectation that Africa, much of which remains chronically food insecure, willhelp the rest of the world to meet its rising food deficits in the decades to come Drivers: Triple F crisis Food crisis- ( 2007/8 world food price) Fuel crisis- (oil price spikes mid 2000’s) Financial crisis- (2008 markets & global recession) • Actors/ Investors • Asian powers seeking to secure food supply • Oil-rich (but land and water poor) Gulf States • European and North American banks, financiers and sovereign funds, responding to financial crisis • All the above in partnerships with African governments and/or domestic partners. extent of land deals in Africa - 2.5 million ha between 2005 and mid 2009 (see IIED)

  6. Overseas Land Investments to Secure Food Supplies Source: von Braun and Meinzen-Dick 2009, with data compiled from media reports . 2006–09

  7. Land rush • E.g. Sudan transferred nearly 4 m ha of land to foreign private investors between 2004-2013 (see World Bank 2014) • Produce: food crops- biofuel production • investors from 7 different countries (e.g. USA, Saudia Arabia, South Korea etc.) • South Sudan became an independent state in July 2011 • Northern Sudan lost most of its oil fields – to revive economy-selling or leasing vast swaths of fertile land to foreign investors • E.g. Republic of Congo-Brazzavillesince 2010 -200,000 ha deal concluded -Agri-SA negotiations for land acquisitions with the governments of 22 African countries • Silence on the deal- produce: vegetables, grain, … red meat, poultry • 30 years concession Visit http://www.landmatrix.org/en/ and https://landportal.info/book for more up to date tracking of deals etc.,

  8. Africa up for ‘grabs’ Agro-fuels/ biofuel production in response to fuel crisis e.g. Ghana,- ( Jatropha Africa (UK) , ScanFuel from Norway) Mozambique– 183 000ha allocated to Jatropha companies ( UK, Canada, Portugal ,etc.) Tanzania- 1000 rice farmers in Usangu Plains forced from land for sugarcane Jatropha: used for biodiesel Sugarcane: used for bioethanol 2010

  9. Why the interest in Biofuels? • Most African governments -biofuels has potential to increase agricultural productivity and export incomes (end result growing economies & job creation) • At the same time climate change may be addressed through reduction of green house gas emissions. • Reduce greenhouse gasses as compared to fossil fuels- Contested • Biofuel is renewable and biodegradable-

  10. A revealing book for anyone wishing to understand the startling impact of biofuels and land grabbing on Africa. • “The drive for biofuel production originated primarily with global demand and the private sector, and not with local or rural needs.” • “The companies at the forefront of investment in Africa are secretive. “ • “Biofuel production competes with food production, aggravates (worsens) hunger and undermines the social and political stability of developing nations “ (e.g. Tanzania) • Ethanol production from biofuel crops are questionable”. Biofuels as a provider of net energy must be questioned land use implications • “Biofuel production is also changing the traditional agricultural landscape, leading to monoculture.” • “Biofuels also pose risks, particularly with respect to impending global warming. • “As more forest and bush land is opened up for cultivation, a major source of carbon sink will be destroyed, and this will contribute to climate change.”

  11. CASE STUDY: The push for biofuels in Ethiopia • August 2007, a Biofuels Development and Utilization Strategy was introduced by the federal government Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME 2008). • Strategy is brief and number of shortcomings: • legal and institutional aspects of small-scale biofuel production, • labour policies, • localization of biofuels, • environmental impact assessment mechanisms, etc. • Contains plans to extract • Biodieseljatropha, palm oil and castor seed, and; • Ethanol from sugarcane. • Strategy principally focuses on attracting foreign and domestic investments

  12. WB- “Doing Business" rankings - measure the "ease of doing business" in different countries-Encourages developing countries to have minimal regulation (e.g. corporate taxes & EIAs) and commoditized land( for markets)

  13. BIOFUEL PRODUCTION IN SOUTH AFRICA • Currently, three crops are permitted for producing bioethanol, namely sorghum, sugar cane and sugar beet • Three for producing biodiesel, namely canola, sunflower and soya beans. • Grain sorghum is utilised by the ethanol industry because it yields roughly the same amount of ethanol per bushel as maize. • BUT Maize is South Africa’s staple food and therefore maize is not allowed to be used for biofuel in SA for fear of fuelling price volatility and leading to food supply instability, which could affect poorer citizens. • Other potential feedstocks, like jatropha, which produces oil-rich seeds, are excluded on the basis of biodiversity and environmental concerns and to protect existing industries like forestry. • In 2012 ( DRDLR), 10,000ha going to the Cradock biofuels project -2Billion Rand biofuel project - SA short term goal of 30% ethanol content in fuel. • Project will contribute 2% of that target • E Cape biofuel project expected to create 20 000 jobs

  14. MYTH OF AFRICAN COMMUNAL LAND ‘FREE’ • Land grabbing shrouded in similar attitudes that there is ‘ unexplored, underutilized and uninhabited African land. • land that is owned communally under a chief • In some countries land is held by governments so supposedly it's for the people • Yet, Farmers are driven off the land, they lose land, land rights, land titles are not respected ( marginalization) • Poor farmers already lack access to the necessary resources (land, credit, infrastructure and inputs) • Now, lured into engaging with e.g. biofuel crops- causes division in communities (e.g. Mali)

  15. The case of Mali • See documentary_ Land Rush: Why Poverty

  16. EXAMPLE: farmers resisting neo-colonial deal : South Korean company in Madagascar • A 99-year lease in east and west Madagascar to South Korean Company Daewoo Logistics • In size about 1.3 million ha(over half the arable land of the country) for maize for food and palm oil for biofuel – • The contract gave Daewoo Logistics the right to grow and export maize and oil palm to South Korea to the tune of US$6 billion. • Daewoo’s purpose was to secure future fuel stocks and boost Korea’s food security by providinghalf of its maize imports from Madagascar alone • This deal in early 2009, contributed to the overthrow of the Marc Ravalomanagovernment.

  17. Concluding comments • African states are finally getting what they have so long sought – foreign investment – but in forms and on terms that are exposing fractures and division among African societies, within communities, and between citizens and states • The current land grabbing can contribute to processes of discrimination and marginalization that are similar to the dislocations during the colonial period.

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