Assessment and appraisal of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in land in view of food security

This study by GTZ, comissioned by the BMZ, is part of a series on Foreign Direct Investment which also features the study “Foreign Direct Investment in Land in Developing Countries” and four country cases on FDI in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Madagascar and Mali. In the context of the global food, fuel and financial crisis, FDI in land have gained increasing scope and importance. The theoretical framework developed in this study suggests that there are opportunities and risks involved. FDI in land can create a virtuous cycle of development in rural areas and improved food and nutrition security, or a vicous cycle of marginalization, increasing poverty as well as food and nutrition insecurity of former land owners, communities and possibly countries as a whole. The report gives recommendations in order to minimize harmful practices and to maximize opportunities and benefits of FDI in land for food and nutrition security.

Published by GIZ