IT'S TIME TO OUTLAW LAND GRABBING, NOT TO MAKE IT "RESPONSIBLE"!

This report by Friends of the Earth International and several partner organisations argues against the 'Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investment' (RAI), asserting that large-scale land acquisitions—or 'land grabbing'—cannot be made responsible and should instead be outlawed to protect food sovereignty and human rights.

• The report claims that large-scale land acquisitions have resulted in the transfer of at least 50 million hectares of agricultural land from farmers to corporations in recent years, with some estimates suggesting 47 million hectares were leased or sold in 2009 alone and 63 million hectares changed hands in 27 African countries.
• The Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) were jointly developed by the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as a voluntary set of seven principles for investors.
• The authors argue that RAI is a deceptive attempt to legitimise land grabbing and cover up power imbalances, asserting that such deals are driven by financial speculation targeting 20% profit rates, which is incompatible with food security as food production typically only yields profits of 3-5%.
• The report highlights a lack of evidence for the benefits of large-scale land acquisitions, noting that a World Bank report released in September 2010 failed to find convincing examples of 'wins' for poor communities or countries, finding only a 'long list of losses'.
• Various governments have responded to land grabbing with different strategies: Argentina, Brazil, and New Zealand have promised legislation to limit foreign land acquisition, while Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Ghana are accused of using 'legal and brute force' to suppress local opposition.
• The document calls for an immediate ban on large-scale land transactions, the rescinding of existing deals, and the return of land to communities, advocating instead for food sovereignty based on peasant agriculture, family farming, and ecological methods.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2011). IT'S TIME TO OUTLAW LAND GRABBING, NOT TO MAKE IT "RESPONSIBLE"! https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/RAI-EN.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. IT'S TIME TO OUTLAW LAND GRABBING, NOT TO MAKE IT "RESPONSIBLE"! 2011. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/RAI-EN.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=IT'S TIME TO OUTLAW LAND GRABBING, NOT TO MAKE IT "RESPONSIBLE"! |date=17 April 2011 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/RAI-EN.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternational2011its, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{IT'S TIME TO OUTLAW LAND GRABBING, NOT TO MAKE IT "RESPONSIBLE"!}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2011}, month = apr, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/RAI-EN.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }