África: el acaparamiento de tierras

The report argues that the expansion of agrofuels in Africa, driven largely by European Union mandates, leads to 'neo-colonialism' where land is acquired by foreign companies and governments. This process results in the displacement of local farmers, increased food insecurity, and significant ecological damage, including deforestation and water scarcity. The document highlights the 'myth of marginal lands,' asserting that land claimed as unused is often vital for communal survival. It recommends halting land acquisitions, prioritizing food sovereignty, and ensuring the free, prior, and informed consent of local communities.

• A significant portion of land acquisitions in Africa are dedicated to agrofuels, with some estimates suggesting around 5 million hectares, or one-third of all land sold or acquired on the continent, are used for this purpose.
• The European Union's mandatory target for 10% of transport fuel to come from renewable sources by 2020 is a primary driver for land grabbing in Africa, as the EU lacks sufficient internal land to meet this demand.
• The claim that agrofuels like jatropha are grown on 'marginal lands' is often a myth; such lands are frequently communal areas used for grazing, food crops, or medicinal plants, and their seizure threatens local food security.
• Agrofuel production causes severe ecological damage, including the deforestation of primary forests and the destruction of wildlife habitats, such as the Babile elephant sanctuary in Ethiopia.
• Agrofuels are highly water-intensive, which exacerbates water scarcity in arid regions; for example, producing one liter of soybean-based biodiesel requires 9,100 liters of water.
• The 'outsourcing' or subcontracting system for crops like jatrofa often leaves small farmers impoverished, as they may invest years without income and replace food crops with non-edible species.
• Despite promises of economic development, agrofuel plantations create very few permanent jobs, with some estimates suggesting only one permanent position per 100 hectares.
• There is a growing risk that biotechnology companies will use agrofuels as a gateway to introduce genetically modified (GM) crops into the African market.

APA

Burley, H., Bebb, A., Bassey, M., & Pennycook, F. (2010). África: el acaparamiento de tierras. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FoEE_Africa_up_for_grabs_2010_SPANISH.pdf

Chicago

Burley, Helen, Adrian Bebb, Mariann Bassey, and Frank Pennycook. África: el acaparamiento de tierras. Friends of the Earth International, 2010. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FoEE_Africa_up_for_grabs_2010_SPANISH.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Burley |first1=Helen |last2=Bebb |first2=Adrian |last3=Bassey |first3=Mariann |last4=Pennycook |first4=Frank |title=África: el acaparamiento de tierras |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=June 2010 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FoEE_Africa_up_for_grabs_2010_SPANISH.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{burley2010frica, author = {Burley, Helen and Bebb, Adrian and Bassey, Mariann and Pennycook, Frank}, title = {{África: el acaparamiento de tierras}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2010}, month = jun, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FoEE_Africa_up_for_grabs_2010_SPANISH.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }