Land grabbing destroys unique landscape in Romania

A Swiss meat company has purchased, or otherwise claimed, large portions of arable land in the Hârtibaciu Valley in Romania. Photo: Martin Wallmen.

Of: Lisa Busch

Land grabbing and international companies buying up land in Romania are destroying one of the places in the world with the greatest biodiversity and creating problems for the people in the countryside. This is the opinion of biologist Joe England and landscape architect Viktoria Luft, who works to promote sustainable agriculture and small-scale agriculture in the country.

November 16, 2021, Interview

Global agribusiness continues to displace rural communities

Global agribusiness continues to grow with harmful consequences for smallholder farmers and rural communities. Photo: Zonc_Photos / Pixabay.

Of: True Honkaniemi

Land grabs facilitated by multinational corporations, foreign investors and local governments in a pursuit of agribusiness have been escalating during the last decade. Huge acquisitions of farmland have led to violent displacements of rural populations. Although reports of the practice are not as recurrent in the media, the problem is far from over.

May 3, 2021, English, Magazine, News article

El Niño shows the importance of global climate action

Of: Anabela Lemos

The latest El Niño affected 1,5 million Mozambicans. The fact that a relatively small rise in temperature in the Pacific Ocean is causing a shortage of food on the other side of the globe should be an eye-opener for politicians. Climate change must be curtailed and the only way is joint global action, writes Anabela Lemos, director of the Africa Groups' partner organization Justiça Ambiental in Mozambique.

August 25, 2016, Debate

It is unacceptable that Swedish investments contribute to land conflicts

Of: Annelie Andersson

Swedish pension money contributes to small farmers in Latin America losing land that guarantees their livelihood. Human rights and democracy must never be the prize for maximizing economic gain. Therefore, Sweden must take its responsibility in land issues, writes Annelie Andersson from the Latin American groups.

April 20, 2016, Debate

Reductions in Swedish development assistance could affect smallholders in Paraguay

Of: Agnar Kjeller and Juan Felix Martinez Garcia

Next year, almost a third of the development assistance budget may be used to finance the reception of refugees. In the long run, maybe even more. We want to share the great concern this decision creates for people in Paraguay - one of many countries where Swedish development aid makes crucial differences, write agronomists Juan Felix Martinez Garcia and Agnar Kjeller.

December 10, 2015, Debate

Should water be used for food or energy?

Of: Terje Østigård

Agriculture, which today accounts for about 70% of the world's total water consumption, can be used to produce food or energy. The need for water and food will increase by 70-90% by the year 2050, while global demand for energy is expected to increase by 50%. The equation simply does not go together and the question is whether food or energy should be prioritized in agriculture, writes Terje Østigård at the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI)

March 22, 2014, Debate