The phenomenon wherein developed countries/foreign agribusiness corporations lease or buy large tracts of arable lands in developing countries for the purpose of meeting their domestic consumption requirements and/or for the production of bio- fuels.

“The International Food Policy Research Institute reports that 37 million to 49 million acres of land in poor countries, valued at $20 to $30 billion, were sold or under negotiation for sale to foreign buyers since 2006.” “A New Attack: G20 Countries practice Agricolonialism in Developing Countries ”. August 13, Available at

 RP-China Agreement:  MOU between DAR, DA and Jilin Fuhua Corporation on the lease 1,000,000 hectares of public, private & gov’t-owned lands for the production of rice, corn and sorghum.  MOA on the development of “an initial” 40,000 hectares of land for cassava and sugarcane production  South Korean company, Jeonnam Feedstock Limited, leased 94,000 hectares of land in Occidental Mindoro for corn production

 MOA between the Palawan Bioenergy Development Corporation and the China CAMCE Engineering Co., Ltd. for the planting of sugarcane in 10,000 has. in Palawan for the production of bioethanol projected at 150,000 liters a day;  Memorandum of Agreement among One Cagayan Resource Development Inc., Nanning Yong Kai Industry Group Co., Ltd. and China CAMCE Co., Ltd., whereby One Cagayan and Yong Kai shall form a joint venture company in the Philippines for the farming of raw materials, namely sugar cane or cassava, for conversion into bioethanol, at none less than 150,000 liters per day capacity and CAMCE shall provide the financing and machineries and equipment from China; and

 B.M. SB Integrated Biofuels Company and Nanning Yong Kai Industry group Co., Ltd., whereby both parties agree to enter into a joint venture for the purpose of bioethanol production with the latter party providing the investment for the project.  Tokyo-based Pacific BioFields Corp., which has teamed up with local firm BioEnergy Northern Luzon Inc., will convert and develop about 600,000 hectares of ‘public and non-disposable' timberland and forest land in Pagudpud into coconut plantations.

 $200M Jathropa contract with Abundant Biofuels Corp. (ABC), an American firm engaged in the business of alternative energy production.  Singaporean firm BP Fuel Crops Asia will cultivate jatropha in the Philippines involving some 300,000 has. of arable land.

 Threatens food security of host country  Displacement/loss of ownership or control of ARBs over awarded lands  Encroachment on ancestral domains/displacement of upland communities/IPs  Soil degradation/soil erosion  Agribusiness competes with small and local farmers for much needed agri. infra. i.e. irrigation,”government incentives

 Loss of trade opportunities/benefits for local farmers  Land grabbing of public lands  Loss of access of upland communities to upland/forestry /stewardship programs  Exploitation of local labor/”contractualization” of rural labor

 The Philippine government has been promoting such land grab deals & has been non-transparent  RP-China Agreement  2M hectares for agribusiness development program  Corporate Farming Bill  JPEPA  Bio-fuels Act/JAO  Anti-Global Land Grab Bill

 Anti-aerial spraying campaign/anti-corporate agriculture)  Anti-bio-fuels campaign  Study on Global Land Grabbing in the Philippines  Anti-JPEPA campaign/case before the Supreme Court  Anti-JAO campaign  Anti-RP-China deal campaign  Engagement with Senator Trillanes on Anti-Global Land Grab bill  MTPDP Assessment/critique of 2M has. for agribusiness dev’t program