The growing competition for Africa’s agricultural land

This article provides a look back at the history of large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) in Africa over the past 25 years. Africa accounts for about 65% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, attracting around 37% of global large-scale agricultural investments. Despite the volume of deals, only half of these projects become operational, and just 11% of the acquired land is actually cultivated. Much of the investment targets biofuel production or carbon credit schemes, offering little contribution to local food security. Financial firms, sovereign wealth funds, and foreign governments—especially from the Gulf, China, India, and the West—are key investors, often negotiating long-term leases with African governments. Carbon markets have emerged as a major driver, with African nations like Kenya and Gabon leveraging their natural assets for carbon credits. However, transparency issues, governance challenges, and the risk of “land grabbing” persist. The article presents compelling data on African countries most affected by land grabs since 2000. For example, 14.6% of Liberia’s total land area—equivalent to 1.6 million hectares—has been acquired through LSLAs.