Report

A Thirst for Distant Lands: Foreign investment in agricultural land and water

By Carin Smaller on May 14, 2009

This paper examines how water is the main driver behind a new wave of foreign investment in the agriculture sector. Investors have made it clear that acquiring land without water resources has no economic value. Governments with scarce or depleted water resources are actively acquiring fertile land with abundant water resources. What is often referred to as the "great global land grab" may actually turn out to be a "water grab."

Report details

Topic
Food and Agriculture
Region
Africa
Focus area
Economies
Publisher
IISD
Copyright
IISD, 2009