Family farming in Latin America: a new comparative analysis
Since the beginning of the millennium, circumstances have changed in Latin America with respect to agriculture and rural development. Agricultural activity in particular has seen strong growth in demand for food, raw materials and fibres in the region, reflecting higher prices internationally and access to new markets in China and other emerging countries – India and elsewhere in the South, especially in Africa. Against this backdrop, assets such as land, water and mineral resources have increased in value, creating a favourable environment for investment and an overall expansion in agribusiness. In some cases, this process has led to foreign investors buying up cheap land in the region, a practice known as land grabbing.