Archive for November, 2011

The Hungry Dragon: China in Africa – One For The Future?

Via The Financial Times, an analysis on China’s interest in African trade, specifically foodstuffs and agriculture.  As the article notes: “On the face of it, it should be a logical tie-up. China, with its burgeoning middle class and shrinking arable farmland, is facing increasing strains in its agricultural sector to meet domestic food demand. Africa, […]

Read more »



Africa’s Great ‘Water Grab’

Via The Guardian, an interesting look at what they term Africa’s great ‘water grab’.  As the article notes: The banks of the Niger river, in southern Mali, have been flooded by a steady stream of foreigners. Coveted by foreign investors eager to snap up large tracts of fertile farmland, the river basin has been at […]

Read more »



Mali-able: Foreign Investment Jumps 60% in Mali

Via The Guardian, a report on a surge in foreign investment in Mali’s agricultural sector.  As the article notes: Foreign investment in arable land in Mali increased by 60% between 2009 and 2010, says a report published on Thursday to coincide with the first international farmers’ conference to tackle the global rush for land. The […]

Read more »



Bangladesh Government Goes Shopping For Overseas Farmland

Via The Guardian, a report that Bangladesh is looking abroad for land to grow food to meet the country’s increasing demand and to create jobs for Bangladeshi migrants.  As the article notes: The Bangladesh government is looking near and far – from Ukraine to South Sudan – to bolster food security at home, according to […]

Read more »



The Hungry Dragon: China’s Tycoons Go Farming

Via China Dialogue, an interesting article on how big business has woken up to the growth potential of organic agriculture in China and the impact that this may have upon small farmers: China’s biggest PC manufacturer to grow vegetables? It sounds ridiculous, but that’s exactly what Liu Chuanzhi, chairman of computer giant Lenovo, wants to […]

Read more »



The Hungry Dragon Does Tango: China Courts Partners to Step up Investment in Argentina

Via Market News International, a report on Chinese efforts to step up investment in Argentina.  As the article notes: China is ramping up investment in Argentina to secure natural resources to feed its growing economy and snare sales opportunities for its emergent manufacturing industry. China over the past few decades has boosted and sharpened its […]

Read more »


  |  Next Page »
About This Blog And Its Author
Seeds Of A Revolution is committed to defining the disruptive geopolitics of the global Farms Race.  Due to the convergence of a growing world population, increased water scarcity, and a decrease in arable land & nutrient-rich soil, a spike of international investment interest in agricultural is inevitable and apt to bring a heretofore domestic industry into a truly global realm.  Whether this transition involves global land leases or acquisitions, the fundamental need for food & the protectionist feelings this need can give rise to is highly likely to cause such transactions to move quickly into the geopolitical realm.  It is this disruptive change, and the potential for a global farms race, that Seeds Of A Revolution tracks, analyzes, and forecasts.

Educated at Yale University (Bachelor of Arts - History) and Harvard (Master in Public Policy - International Development), Monty Simus has long held a keen interest in natural resource policy and the geopolitical implications of anticipated stresses in the areas of freshwater scarcity, biodiversity reserves & parks, and farm land.  Monty has lived, worked, and traveled in more than forty countries spanning Africa, China, western Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Southeast & Central Asia, and his personal interests comprise economic development, policy, investment, technology, natural resources, and the environment, with a particular focus on globalization’s impact upon these subject areas.  Monty writes about freshwater scarcity issues at www.waterpolitics.com and frontier investment markets at www.wildcatsandblacksheep.com.