Land 'grabs' expand to Europe as big business blocks entry to farming
Foreign investment in farmland is frequently promoted by investors and host governments, under the guise of new technologies, jobs, and capital. In reality, land acquisitions frequently take place without the free prior and informed consent or consultation of the local communities concerned; often with no environmental or social impact assessments. Poor contracts are marred by a lack of transparency, safeguards, and monitoring; promises of jobs, schools and hospitals don't materialise.
According to a new report, vast tracts of land in Europe are being "grabbed" by large companies, speculators, wealthy foreign buyers and pension funds in a similar way to in developing countries.
Research by the Transnational Institute, Via Campesina and others, states that half of all farmland in the EU is now concentrated in the 3% of large farms that are more than 100 hectares (247 acres) in size. In some EU countries, land ownership is as unequal as it is in Brazil, Colombia and the Philippines.
"In Italy in 2011, 0.29% of farms accessed 18% of total CAP incentives, and 0.0001 of these, or 150 farms, cornered 6% of all subsidies. In Spain, 75% of all the subsidies were taken by just 16% of the largest farmers. In Hungary in 2009, 8.6% of farms cornered 72% of all agricultural subsidies," said Mr. Van der Ploeg, a member of the research team and a professor of Wageningen University.
Source:
