Seized!

I'm not sure how many of you saw on the very last page on the "Seized!" reading from the GRAIN Briefing article, but they mention their blog (now website). The site is www.farmlandgrab.org and since the article we read was from way back when in October 2008, this site offers a wealth of information as to what the current status of land grabbing is.

The picture above (from their website) is showing the "purchase of 40,000ha at Telopea Downs, in far western Victoria is close to the final piece of the land purchasing puzzle for Hassad Australia, who’s parent company Hassad Foods is owned by the Qatar Government."


The explanation from Hassad Foods? :“The properties are spread over a wide geographic area, so we limit our exposure to production risk – we don’t want to be too exposed in any one area for climate, disease and other risk reasons.”

This is occurring everywhere and one really interesting thing is that Australia is both land grabbing as well as having its land grabbed, as seen here with Hassad Foods (Qatar). Why do you think this is? From a common sense standpoint, doesn't this all seem pointless, that is, grabbing land from each other instead using land in your country for your country? I think the obvious answer is yes, it is pointless. It really speaks to the other aspect of land grabbing. Other than securing food, we're seeing the private sector, financial aspect come into play here saying there's profit to be made.

Any other thoughts about land grabbing? From "Seized!"? In general? What's land grabbing's relationship with structural violence? 

"GRAIN, a leading international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems".

--FARMLANDGRAB.ORG