A CRITIQUE OF THE PRINCIPLES FOR RESPONSIBLE AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENT

Abstract

The CFS (Committee on World Food Security) principles provide a framework to help ensure that investment in agriculture is sustainable, and contributes to inclusive growth and poverty reduction. This paper analyzes the recent phenomenon known as land grabbing as an important topic for theoretical and empirical investigations. Initially, it focuses on discussions of the existing literature on the subject, building on empirical data from previous studies, and then addresses the impacts of land negotiations around the world. Subsequently, there is a systemic examination of the CSF principles. This critical analysis demonstrates that the protection against land grabbing is weak and there is an urgent need for clearer and more precise frameworks. Finally, this analysis shows that a deeper understanding of contemporary globalization is needed with respect to the governance aspects within the complex schemes of investment in foreign lands.