Agricultural investments in Mozambique: An analysis of investment trends, business models and social and environmental conduct

Why do large-scale agricultural investments induce different socio-economic, food security, and environmental impacts? Evidence from Kenya, Madagascar, and Mozambique

“…Other important, but understudied, environmental impacts include onand off-site loss of natural vegetation and biodiversity, as well as chemical pollution of water and air resources (Dell'Angelo et al 2017a). There is general concern that LAI-related practices of intensification-such as monoculture, irrigation, and agrochemical use-can amplify environmental degradation (Mekonnen et al 2012, Muriithi and Yu 2015, Lanari et al 2016, Di Matteo and Schoneveld 2016.…”

“…The LAIs implemented in Madagascar to date are exceptions, promoted by investors who managed to navigate the difficult context(Burnod and Andriamanalina 2017).Similarly, in Mozambique, official policy discourses and the country's commitment to the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN) in 2012 have created, on paper, a favorable political climate for LAIs. However, the actual political climate for LAIs has been less open for LAIs after some of them were associated with scandals and were forced to be abandoned based on advocacy and resistance by international and local NGOs linked to foreign civil society movements (DiMatteo and Schoneveld 2016). Despite recurring efforts, global-level rhetoric, and initiatives-especially emphasizing Mozambique's land law -did not yet influence national governance of LAIs in Mozambique.…”