Monsanto is Buying Lands

From Vladimir Platov at New Eastern Outlook
It is believed that there are just over 1.4 billion hectares of land potentially suitable for agricultural production in the world. According to many Western experts, today agricultural land assets are highly profitable business investments, and therefore in the coming years alone, allocation of about 150 billion dollars by various countries for the purchase of agricultural land is projected. Among the reasons for this, the prediction of steady increase in food prices is indicated in particular. For instance, it is expected that by 2017 the price of wheat and barley will rise on average by half, and the cost of sunflower will double.

In this regard, the purchase of agricultural land outside the national territory has already been elevated to the rank of state policy in a number of countries. In particular, it is typical for the Persian Gulf States, China, South Korea, India, Japan, the United States, and other countries. Thus, the Arab sheikhs are well aware that they will be able to survive on “black gold” for only a couple more decades, during which the oil may lose its position as the leading energy source, and therefore they are preparing contingency plans for themselves in advance – buying agricultural land.

Probably the most attractive territory in terms of low-cost transactions for the sale of land was considered Africa until recently. However, a real “boom” currently belongs to Ukraine, which is now immersed in a deep financial and economic crisis and suffering from anarchy. And the reason for this is low prices, absence of land legislation to protect the rights and interests of a local population, and low production costs, which are so attractive to potential buyers.
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