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Towards a science of ‘land grabbing’

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  • Liao, Chuan
  • Agrawal, Arun

Abstract

In the past two decades, large-scale land transactions (LSLTs), commonly known as land grabs or large-scale land acquisitions, have been pursued by agricultural investors and host-country governments in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) to boost crop yield. Existing knowledge on LSLTs is highly diverse, generated by scholars taking a wide range of perspectives and frameworks. However, the global patterns of LSLT-related research and their potential shortcomings remain under-investigated. In this paper, we analyze 370 peer-reviewed papers on LSLTs to advance this field of knowledge towards a science of ‘land grabbing’. Our findings reveal that 1) research on LSLTs displays geographical imbalances; 2) global statistics do not fully capture the complexity of LSLTs on the ground; 3) different disciplinary interests and theoretical traditions result in different use of terms in referring to LSLTs and divergent impressions of their social consequences; and 4) the environmental consequences of LSLTs are under-studied relatively. We suggest that a better understanding of LSLTs could result from greater engagement with each discipline’s strength and epistemic frameworks.

Suggested Citation

  • Liao, Chuan & Agrawal, Arun, 2024. "Towards a science of ‘land grabbing’," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:137:y:2024:i:c:s0264837723004684
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.107002
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