Farmland Investments and Water Rights: The legal regimes at stake

The rise of foreign investment in farmland over the past decade is partly driven by a search for access to water resources.

Land without water has no value; it is the key ingredient for agricultural production. Over 70 per cent of all freshwater resources are used for agricultural production. However, the value of water has yet to be fully understood or appreciated, and its fundamental role is often overlooked in the context of farmland investments. This report, focused on Africa, provides an overview of the international legal regimes governing water rights and investment in land and the implications for foreign investors, governments and communities.