Europe’s Large-Scale Land Acquisitions and Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

The agricultural sector in the European Union is largely characterized by a declining number of farms and an increasing size of surviving farms. The land is concentrating under the usage of fewer large agricultural producers. Meanwhile, a broad distribution of land ownership is the basis for the welfare of local economies and rural communities. Land distribution is one important component that guarantees our right to food, human rights, and sustainability in agriculture. The aim of this paper was to compile a systematic review of the existing literature on large-scale land acquisitions in Europe. The results are based on two different search methods. Firstly, documents and articles on large-scale land acquisitions were studied and, secondly, keyword research from the SCOPUS database and analysis using VOSviewer where performed. This study shows that large-scale land acquisitions are closely related to food security, human rights, global governance and international law, land tenure, biofuel production, and financialization through European Union common agricultural policy subsidies and foreign direct investments.

Agricultural Land Concentration in Estonia and Its Containment Possibilities

“…There is a need for productive, yet sustainable, agriculture to ensure future food security for the world's increasing population [32,62]. The European Green Deal and Sustainable Development Goals set some of the goals needed to move towards sustainability [12,39,63,64]. Land is a finite resource, and more cannot be produced.…”

“…Agricultural land concentration is a topic of discussion in different countries, but particularly current in post-Soviet countries. Land concentration is an activity by which large agricultural concerns increasingly buy, or lease, land from other agricultural producers [12][13][14][15]. Supporting small farmers remains essential for food security and to combat rural poverty.…”