Land-grabbing

Global land grabbing: issues and solutions

Land-grabbing has become a growing phenomena in the so-called Thirld World. Large areas of fertile soil are being sold or leased to foreign governments, hedge funds or private investors to be used as plantations for food or biofuels. This is worrying Bread for all, other NGOs and private landowners around the world, because the land is no longer available to the poorest. Compensation is often meager and promises about local development are not held.

Paper by Anh-Nga Tran-Nguyen, September 2010, prepared for Bread for all. Download (pdf) »

Right to food: a fundamental human right

The most fundamental human right is the right to food. This right includes food security and to a certain extent also food sovereignty. Central is the access to food and the possibility for people to feed themselves either by self-supply or by earning enough money to buy sufficient food for themselves and their families. Food sovereignty means that communities  and nations are enabled to decide democratically on agriculture and food policies.

Agricultural policies that develop structures in favour of small scale peasants rather than of industrial agro concerns are needed in order to ensure food security for all. A fair food policy also comprehends the questions of patent law and preservation of the genetic diversity.

Food production has to be protected from the agro fuel industry. Local as well as regional production has to be enhanced. Agricultural policy and global trade are closely related to each other.

Trade policy has to ensure fair prices to farmers and to protect them against dumping imports from developed countries. International laws must prevent unmoral gambling with food.

Bread for all exerts influence by supporting exemplary projects, political lobbying in Switzerland and supporting  landless movements and farmer communities.

Bread for all pleads for

  • Realizing the internationally binding human right to food worldwide. It should allow countries to protect food security with suitable provisions and to encourage a multifunctional agriculture.
  • strengthening the call of partners in developing countries for land reforms in order to enable reliable access to land and other resources.
  • the realisation of an international moratorium on bio fuel gathered from foodstuff.
  • worldwide rules to prohibit dumping prices on agricultural products enabling farmers to get fair prices for their products.