Growth Green Agriculture (GG Agriculture) | Severest drought in the U.S. since the 1930s

Severest drought in the U.S. since the 1930s

Glencore International Plc (GLEN) and Bunge Ltd. (BG) expect lower prices for agricultural commodities in the coming season after the most severe drought in the U.S. since the 1930s drove corn and soybeans to records last year.

Wheat production enjoys growth in 2013

First forecasts for the 2013 wheat harvest point to production increasing to 690 million tonnes - 4.3 percent up on 2012. This would be the second largest crop on record, according to the latest issue of FAO's quarterly Crop Prospects and Food Situation report.

UN food agencies staff in Mozambique receive an Award of Excellence

Rome – In acknowledgement of the importance of partnership in tackling global issues, the staff of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have today been recognized for their outstanding work together in Mozambique.
Over the past several years, the UN food agencies’ country teams have collaborated effectively to help improve the country’s food security situation.

Successful Democratic Election in Ghana attracts French Investment

This coming May Ghana will be hosting many top business executives from France, who will be visiting the country to explore new business opportunities.

Growth Green Agriculture - UN: invest responsibly in agriculture to beat global poverty

Ramped up responsible investment into agriculture could help tackle poverty and hunger across the world, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

It says that around 870 million people globally – primarily in developing countries – currently have insufficient access to food, and that investment strategies that put farmers at their heart should be lauded by governments.

Ukraine to boost grain exports to Saudi Arabia, Minister says

 Ukraine aims to almost double grain shipments to Saudi Arabia in two to three years, said Mykola Prysyazhnyuk, the Ukrainian agriculture minister.

GGAgriculture | Making the most of agricultural investment

A report published by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and commissioned by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), explores the range of business models that can be used to structure agricultural investments in lower- and middle-income countries, and that provide an alternative to large-scale land acquisitions.

Making the most of agricultural investment: A survey of business models that provide opportunities for smallholders documents a range of more inclusive business models that can bring benefits to small-scale farmers and protect their land rights, while also ensuring returns to companies.

The report finds that any international guidance on agricultural investments should go beyond minimizing the possible negative impacts of large-scale land acquisitions, to also promote investment models that maximize opportunities for local smallholders. It further identifies a range of ways for big investors and local smallholders to collaborate that can be mutually beneficial. These options are discussed under six broad headings: contract farming, management contracts, tenant farming and sharecropping, joint ventures, farmer-owned business and upstream/downstream business links.

The report suggests that no single model emerges as the best possible option for smallholder farmers in all circumstances. In order to benefit smallholders, while still remaining attractive for investors, each specific context must take into account the local land tenure, policy, culture, history, and biophysical and demographic considerations.

There are many ways for companies to do business in more inclusive ways whilst minimizing risk and still turning a profit, the report concludes. This can mean closer working relationships with local partners, landholders and farmers, and more sharing of the value generated by the investments.
The report focuses on the way alternative business models can share value – in terms of risk, reward, ownership, and voice in influencing business decisions – between the investor and local partners. It analyses the advantages and disadvantages, opportunities and constraints, and options for scaling up each of these alternative business models.

According to the report, for more inclusive land agreements to work, companies need to embrace them as a genuine economic component of their business, and not just as part of a corporate responsibility programme. The report also states that action to strengthen the negotiating power of local farmers is crucial. Governments and development agencies can do much to promote fairer, more inclusive business models, and support smallholders in their relations with government and investors.

The report, co-authored by Lorenzo Cotula and Sonja Vermeulen, can be downloaded from the IIED website, and is also available on the IFAD website.
Source: www.un-ngls.org

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Growth Green Agriculture Plc is a UK based agricultural investments company specialising in emerging markets offering unique opportunities to invest in Ghana. GGAgriculture acts as consultant on green and socially responsible investments to the private and institutional investor community in Europe. http://ggagriculture.com/

Growth Green Agriculture - The landscape of western Ukraine feels like the land that time forgot.

In the patchwork of tiny fields local farmers work as they have for generations - hay is cut with hand scythes, the carts which bring in the harvest and the ploughs that work the land are horse drawn.

It is a bucolic scene seemingly untouched by the struggle, violence and revolution which have so dominated the country's history.

Growth Green Agriculture – Agricultural Investments in Ukraine

Following the break up of the former Soviet Union and subsequent independence of Ukraine, the agricultural sector has been continually evolving and becoming more efficient and productive.

Growth Green Agriculture – Investing In Global Farming

“Farmland is going to be one of the best investments of our time,” philanthropist George Soros claimed a couple of years ago.

He certainly wasn’t wrong. However, it could be said there is a lack of clarity when it comes to investing in agriculture today and opportunities are being missed in certain subsectors.

GGAgriculture - Agricultural Investments – An Increasingly Green Investment

Agricultural investments are proven to be both profitable and increasing important for the environment over time. With the world population growing at a shockingly fast rate the world needs to meet the high demand for food. This means making more crops and finding more effective ways to harvest food. For investors this is good news as this is an area which could see substantial growth over a period of time.

Growth Green Agriculture is an investment company solely investing in agriculture and farmland in Ukraine

By producing wheat and other crop that is very competitive in a low cost environment and selling them on the world-wide market, we expect an average investor return of around 15% p.a.

Back to Basics with Growth Green Agriculture

A growing number of analysts agree that the global economy is teetering on the edge of a double dip recession. Heavy debt incurred by many of the developed nations has led to imposed austerity measures that put even greater pressures on the already struggling consumers, many of whom have yet to recover from the initial bank crisis of 2008. Consumer spending drives 70% of the economy, and a decrease in purchasing power leads to a contraction in manufacturing and in turn, employment and global growth.

Growth Green Agriculture Looks To The Future With Agricultural Investments

Sustainable Agriculture Investments - Another Industry Poised to Surge.

Growth Green Agriculture – The Growing Green Investment Market

The “socially responsible” and green investment market has been growing exponentially over the last few years, making up over 11% of all assets under professional management. This should not come as a surprise, considering that more and more top CEOs and institutional investors are adopting a decision-making paradigm that requires social and environmental impacts to be carefully considered before money is lent or invested.

Growth Green Agriculture: Why Agricultural Investments?

Agricultural Investments, in particular investments in green, sustainable projects, are attracting a lot of interest lately. Here, Growth Green Agriculture takes a look at the reason why.

Growth Green Agriculture – Now is the time to go back to basics, with Agriculture Investments

At Growth Green Agriculture, we believe it’s time to go back to basics.

The financial crisis of the last two years has seen many investors lose out. The financial markets have not been reacting as they should and companies from start-ups to old established enterprises have seen their share prices suffer.

Growth Green Agriculture – Positive Outlook for Agricultural Investments

Agriculture businesses have been posting strong revenue and profit gains, and the long-term outlook is even brighter for industries involved in feeding a hungry and growing world.

Growth Green Agriculture - Food Security and Investing in Global Food Production

Over 900 million people experience the hardship that hunger imposes, a figure which continues to rise even amidst the riches of the 21st century. As world food prices scale new peaks, food insecurity and famine once again dominate humanitarian headlines. Engulfed within a vortex of population growth, economic instability and climate change, food security presents a formidable challenge for national and global governance.

China's corn rush to redraw global food landscape

When China abandoned its soybean self-sufficiency quest almost 20 years ago and started importing the oilseed feeding its hunger for livestock, it transformed the industry. Today, it's poised to do the same for corn.

The world's most populous nation is expected to triple corn purchases next crop year and, by its own admission, become a significant importer by 2015, putting more strain on global food supplies at a time when inflation is gnawing away at economic growth and the population nears seven billion.