Land Rush

For 20 years, global food prices were stabilized, and the hunger crisis seemed to be under control. But by 2008, prices had increased, populations were rising up and teh African continent had become a playground for foreign investors. Countries such as South Korea, Saudi Arabia and China bought up large areas of fertile African land to produce enough food in the near future. But whose land is it? Does it belong to the farmers or is it government property? This investigative documentary focuses on Sosumar, a huge project that has the Malian government collaborating with a large group of foreign investors. A giant sugar plantation is being planned in the Niger basin at the edge of the Sahara, and this means that a number of local farmers have to be relocated. The property developer is aware of the fact that the farmers need to be involved, because the old-style land-grab approach doesn't work anymore. The population is divided - the project will provide jobs, but people are being asked to sacrifice their traditions, and money isn't always the most important thing. "Only white people know the value of money. They're the ones who made it, and if they give us lots of money for our land, then our land is more valuable than their money." (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)