THE ACQUISITION of farmland from the world's poor by rich countries and international corporations is accelerating at an alarming rate, with an area half the size of Europe's farmland targeted in the past six months, say reports from United Nations officials and agriculture experts.

New reports from the UN and analysts in India, Washington and London estimate that at least 30 million hectares is being acquired to grow food for countries such as China and the Gulf states, who cannot produce enough for their populations.

The UN says the trend is accelerating and could severely impair the ability of poor countries to feed themselves.

World leaders will discuss "land grabbing" or "neo-colonialism" at the G8 meeting, which starts in Italy on Thursday.

A spokesman for Japan's ministry of foreign affairs said it would raise the issue: "We feel there should be a code of conduct for investment in farmland that will be a win-win situation for both producing and consuming countries."

The UN's food and agricultural organisation and other analysts estimate that about 20 million hectares - an area about half the size of all arable land in Europe - has been sold or negotiated for sale or lease in the last six months. About 10 million hectares were bought last year. The land grab is being blamed on wealthy countries and their food security concerns.

Some of the largest deals include South Korea's acquisition of 700,000 hectares in Sudan, and Saudi Arabia's purchase of 500,000 hectares in Tanzania.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo expects to shortly conclude an 8 million-hectare deal with a group of South African businesses.

India has lent money to 80 companies to buy 350,000 hectares in Africa. At least six countries are known to have bought large landholdings in Sudan, one of the least food-secure countries in the world.

Those targeted include not only fertile countries such as Brazil, Russia and Ukraine, but also poor countries such as Cameroon, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Zambia.

Guardian News & Media