ABSTRACT
Chapter 10 examines the effects of the commodification of land-based resources by shedding light on the behavior of investors and other significant players in international investment chains. It is based on academic research from many intellectual traditions, with a focus on the critical analysis of the global political economy. The chapter evaluates how the widespread use of increasingly sophisticated investment tools, such as private equity investments, ETFs and REITs, as well as traditional financial assets like stocks and bonds, contributes to the financialization of farmland. According to the authors, the commodification of African land has a negative influence on the rights and way of life of rural communities, necessitating strong regulation and governance to mitigate and address the socio-economic repercussions on traditional land users.
