Monday, November 14, 2016

Foreign farms increase the risk of conflicts in Africa

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-10/lu-ffi100316.php

Public Release: 3-Oct-2016
Foreign farms increase the risk of conflicts in Africa
Lund University

For the first time, researchers point to areas in Africa where foreign agricultural companies' choice of crops and management of fresh water are partly responsible for the increased water shortages and greater competition for water. This in turn increases the risk of outright conflicts between all those who need water - plants, animals and humans.

During the 21st century, foreign companies have leased large tracts of land in Africa - more so than in other parts of the world - in order to produce cheap food, cheap timber and cheap raw material for biofuels. An interdisciplinary study from Lund University in Sweden shows that about three per cent of the land leased in Africa by foreign companies has been registered as currently in production, for the purpose of growing crops. For various reasons, the companies have either pulled out or not started producing on other leased land.

The study also shows that the crops that foreign investors decide to grow often require more water than the traditionally grown crops. Furthermore, it shows that the same crop can have very different needs for water, depending on the climate where it is grown and which irrigation systems the companies use.

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The leases are often written for periods of 33 to 99 years. The contracts rarely include any rules or limits concerning the use of water.

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