Your Web Site
Commentary: Buying foreign property to grow food and skirt fair trade By Thomas Kostigen, MarketWatch SANTA MONICA, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- Foreign nations are reportedly purchasing land outside their borders to grow food. Fertile soil is in high demand as population growth and climate change strain agriculture. Rich countries with less arable land, such as Saudi Arabia, Libya, and the United Arab Emirates, are buying land in poorer countries to increase their food crops and skirt the risks associated with traditional commodities imports. The Financial Times reports: "Boosted by revenues from the oil boom and concerned about food security, the kingdom is scouring the globe for fertile lands in a search that has taken Saudi officials to Sudan, Ukraine, Pakistan and Thailand. Their plan is to set up large-scale projects... [read full story]
