"Supporting partnerships between Gulf countries and American farmers to advance their own food security agendas would not only constitute a major boon for our farmers, but would also put the USG in a better position to partner with these countries in pursuing our own food security strategy with poor nations in the Arab world and beyond," writes the US embassy in Qatar
"Could you include info in the briefing for my trip about what's happening in Africa in general and in the three countries. I'm visiting in particular about the sale and leasing of farmland to foreign interests (China, Qatar, etc)?"
"At an UNCTAD meeting on investment in agriculture on February 3, China became the central focus of criticism amid a chorus of concerns about the economic, food security, environmental and social impact of large foreign purchases of agricultural lands in developing countries," reports the US mission to Geneva
- Wikileaks
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26 February 2010
"Despite a December 23, 2009, Interfax press report that President Nazarbayev instructed the prosecutors to punish those who disseminate information about the sale of land to foreigners, opposition leaders have continued to advocate against the transfer of land to China," reports the US Embassy in Astana
- Wikileaks
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22 February 2010
"The People's Republic of China (PRC) is encouraging Chinese private enterprises to invest heavily in Sudan's agriculture sector, Lee "Ali" Wei Zheng, Commercial Officer for the Chinese Embassy, told PolEconOff February 3," reports the US Embassy in Khartoum
- Wikileaks
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11 February 2010
US government cable discusses 24 January 2010 meeting organised by Swiss Development Corporation, UN Food and Agriculture Organization and International Fund for Agricultural Investment on "Land, Investment, and Development," attended by many of the key players working on responsible international agro-industrial and land investment principles
- Wikileaks
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04 February 2010
US government mission in Rome discusses FAO's work to develop principles for international farmland "investments"
- Wikileaks
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28 January 2010
US government mission in Riyadh writes, "Although the idea of Saudi farms in
Africa may sound farfetched, the Kingdom has for years hired foreign managers and laborers to administer its farms and other agribusinesses (e.g., most Saudi wheat farms currently have Egyptian managers)."
- Wikileaks
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24 January 2010
"Without significant road improvements, it is unlikely that the ADA rice will reach markets in Maryland, River Gee, or Grand Kru and Liberia will continue with an insecure food supply."
- Wikileaks
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22 December 2009
"Hassad [Food] has innovated by considering investments in overseas agribusinesses rather than only purchasing land in countries with questionable property rights, and where the indigenous population may not benefit from such purchases," writes the US embassy in Doha
- Wikileaks
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16 December 2009
US embassy in Kuwait reports on discussions with Kuwaiti officials on acquiring farmland overseas for food security or profit
- Wikileaks
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15 December 2009
"This apparent rush to lease so much farmland, much or all of it to foreign interests, during a time of worsening food insecurity should raise concern within the donor community about GoE motivations and negotiating capacity," writes the US embassy in Addis Ababa in December 2009
- Wikileaks
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10 December 2009