Going public to improve investment in agriculture

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues for greater transparency in agricultural investment contracts to prevent corruption and protect human rights, highlighting a global trend toward contract disclosure led by countries like Liberia.

• A surge in foreign investment in farmland and water occurred in 2008, driven by a combination of the global food crisis, a biofuels boom, the financial crisis, and rising oil prices. This period saw controversial land acquisitions, such as Daewoo's attempt to take over half of Madagascar's arable land and Karturi Global's acquisition of 300,000 hectares in Ethiopia.
• World Bank data indicates that reported land deals in 2009 totaled 45 million hectares, with investors primarily targeting countries with weak land governance or those in conflict or post-conflict states. Specific high-target countries included Sudan (4 million hectares), Mozambique (2.7 million hectares), Liberia (1.6 million hectares), and Ethiopia (between 1.3 and 3.6 million hectares).
• There is a persistent culture of secrecy regarding investor-state agreements and host government contracts in agriculture, which the author argues undermines government accountability and increases corruption risks. This lack of transparency may impact human rights, specifically the right to information and the right to an adequate standard of living regarding access to food, water, and land.
• A global consensus is emerging in favor of contract transparency, supported by the UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, the International Bar Association, and a set of principles developed by the World Bank, FAO, IFAD, and UNCTAD. Some governments have implemented transparency measures; for example, Liberia's 2009 LEITI Act requires the publication of operating contracts and licenses.
• Several countries have adopted mechanisms to increase public scrutiny of large investment projects. Ghana has published oil sector contracts, while Ethiopia, Ecuador, and East Timor have made certain contracts public. Additionally, Liberia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone require parliament to ratify large investment projects.

APA

Smaller, C. (2012). Going public to improve investment in agriculture. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/going_public_improve_investment_ag.pdf

Chicago

Smaller, Carin. Going public to improve investment in agriculture. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2012. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/going_public_improve_investment_ag.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Smaller |first1=Carin |title=Going public to improve investment in agriculture |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2012 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/going_public_improve_investment_ag.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{smaller2012going, author = {Smaller, Carin}, title = {{Going public to improve investment in agriculture}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2012}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/going_public_improve_investment_ag.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }