October 2015: The publication, titled ‘Safeguarding Land Tenure Rights in the Context of Agricultural Investment,’ aims to provide detailed guidance to government authorities and others on actions they can take to create an enabling environment for responsible and sustainable investment. The report addresses specific aspects of the 2012 Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT) relating to agricultural investments, with a view to promoting inclusive business models that, among others, share value with local farmers “and that do not imply the transfer of large areas of land.”

The report’s introduction notes that efforts to address decades of under-investment in the agricultural sector through large-scale acquisitions of “vacant” or “underutilized” land has not yielded jobs, infrastructure development, access to local and international markets and increased food production, as expected. Rather than addressing low productivity and inefficient food systems in many developing countries, they note, widespread speculation in land has undermined legitimate tenure rights, led to the loss of homes and livelihoods, and contributed to environmental damage and conflict over land rights.

Issues covered in the guide include how to: encourage all stakeholders to explore investment models that reduce or avoid the transfer of land tenure rights; transfer land or resource rights in ways that respect rights, foster sustainable livelihoods and do not harm local environments; ensure that all stakeholders can participate in decision-making processes and that their concerns, priorities and preferences are accommodated in investment design and approval processes; ensure that investment agreements and contracts are accompanied by adequate enforcement mechanisms.

Following an introductory chapter, the publication’s four substantive chapters provide specific guidance on: creating an enabling environment; identifying the need for safeguards; investment approval; and investment monitoring. It concludes with an overview of tools and additional resources. [FAO News] [Publication: Safeguarding Land Tenure Rights in the Context of Agricultural Investment]