A recent report by the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) titled “Land Squeeze” sheds light on the alarming global trend of land consolidation. The report reveals that since 2000, land deals equivalent to twice the size of Germany have concentrated land ownership in the hands of a few powerful entities. This has marginalized small farmers, Indigenous Peoples, and traditional land users.

Nettie Wiebe, an organic farmer and co-author of the report, emphasizes that this issue is pervasive across all continents. She notes, “It is a global phenomenon that is going on in every continent, in every context.” The report identifies four main drivers of land consolidation: land grabbing, deregulation favoring resource extraction, green grabbing, and urban expansion. These factors are often rooted in historical patterns of colonialism, imperialism, and patriarchy but also include contemporary issues like the push for renewable energy projects and rapid urbanization.

Land grabbing, the large-scale acquisition of land, particularly threatens biodiverse and fertile areas. The report highlights that deregulation and policies promoting rapid resource extraction exacerbate this issue. Green grabbing, where land is taken for environmental projects like carbon offsetting, often excludes local communities, leading to loss of food diversity and displacement.

Wiebe warns against efficiency-driven land use, which can harm the environment, stating, “Efficiency can lead to catastrophe” if it degrades soils or pollutes waters. The report calls for integrating land rights into community governance and policy frameworks, advocating for community-led conservation and energy initiatives. It also stresses the need for strict regulation of carbon offset markets and speculative investments in land to protect food sovereignty and biodiversity.

The report offers a comprehensive look at the complex and overlapping forces driving land consolidation and provides actionable recommendations for preserving land rights and food sovereignty globally.