As part of UNIDROIT’s work on private law and agricultural development, a UNIDROIT Working Group is currently developing a Legal Guide on Agricultural Land Investment Contracts, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The future Legal Guide provides detailed guidance to support the preparation, negotiation and implementation of agricultural land investment contracts that are fully consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the context of National Food Security (VGGT), the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Foods Systems (CFS-RAI Principles) and other international instruments. While not endorsing large-scale land acquisitions but acknowledging that land acquisitions continue to occur, the Guide responds to the need for greater and more responsible investment in agriculture, which incorporates necessary safeguards to enhance food security and nutrition and to protect legitimate tenure right holders, human rights, livelihoods and the environment and, in turn, reduces investment risks.
After four meetings and promotional events held in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the Working Group has produced a consolidated draft, known as the ALIC Zero Draft. As part of the elaboration process, the Working Group has agreed that the ALIC Zero Draft should be submitted to broad and extended consultations to raise awareness about the Legal Guide and to seek further input from stakeholders, in order to ensure a high-quality product that responds to actual needs and reflects best practices.
The consultations will include various activities, including regional events in Asia, Africa, South America and Europe and an open online consultation.
You are thus invited to participate in the online consultation The Future UNIDROIT-FAO-IFAD Legal Guide on Agricultural Land Investment Contracts (ALIC).
Please read the full introduction in English, French and Spanish. To take part, post your comments online or send them to fsn-moderator@fao.org.
Comments are welcome in any of the six UN languages.
The deadline is the 25.09.2019.