Agricultural land appropriation processes in developing countries... Research takes stock

"This is not a new phenomenon ", Jean-Philippe Tonneau* explains. "Since colonization, granting land to groups or individuals and the selling or letting of agricultural land in Africa, South America and Asia have been common practice. What is changing is the extent of the phenomenon, the appearance of new payers and the increased media coverage of these processes ". Researchers have also highlighted the gap between media coverage of these supposed land takeovers and the reality in the field.
"We need to take stock of what is really happening in the field and explain what motivates investors and host countries ", Perrine Burnod** adds. "We will have to identify the actual and potential impacts on the different categories of players concerned, particularly rural populations, and subsequently discuss the alternatives in terms of public policy. "

Providing quality information and analyses

With the participation of international bodies, notably the FAO, in drawing up codes of good practice, researchers intend to take stock of the various research projects and studies on the topic. The aim is to support the construction of common analysis frameworks so as to provide the international community, the firms concerned, and public decision-makers with quality information and analyses on a national and a very local level.

"Governments have their own strategies as regards investors ", researchers consider. They have to cope with strong social, economic and political tensions linked to employment, food security, agrofuels and biodiversity. "We can analyse the implications of the different chosen or possible development models – that give varying degrees of priority to family agriculture and more broadly to rural populations – so as to provide decision-makers with comprehensive analyses on which they can base their choices in terms of promoting family agriculture and agribusiness, town and country planning, and natural resource management ". Researchers are keen to consolidate the existing network on land ownership at CIRAD and strengthen the links with other research and development organizations working on the topic.

The impact on local populations: a priority for research

The potential impacts of these land appropriation processes on governments in host countries, investors and, most importantly, local populations, need to be studied. Any land that is coveted is likely to be occupied already, by family farms or herdsmen, or to play a major role in natural resource management (water, fuelwood, fauna and flora). Will host governments really be able to boost their economy by welcoming these investors, or will they trigger strong social reactions? Will investors really go through with their plans? How far will they be able to go without gaining at least some social legitimacy? What will happen to the generally poor, badly organized rural populations, as a result of large-scale agroindustrial investment programmes? In view of the potential changes in modes of access to resources and local market functioning, will they derive any benefit from such projects rather than being forced out of rural areas? If so, under what conditions?

Generating knowledge validated by rigorous scientific methods is thus the main challenge for the meeting on 3 September , which will centre on a series of talks and case studies. A round table will be held, with participants from the worlds of research, civil society and aid agencies.

* Jean-Philippe Tonneau, CIRAD researcher with UMR TETIS (Spatial Information and Analysis for Territories and Ecosystems Joint Research Unit)
**Perrine Burnod, CEMAGREF researcher working with CIRAD (Biomass and Energy Internal Research Unit)