On the Ivory Coast, one of the world’s largest producers of palm oil, a man empties a bag of palm grains on a palm oil plantation (Image: Issouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty)

HISTORY may be repeating itself. Until the mid-20th century, many European countries grew rich on the resources of their colonies. Now, countries including China, Kuwait and Sweden are snapping up vast tracts of agricultural land in poorer nations, especially in Africa, to grow biofuels and food for themselves.

The land grabs have sparked accusations of neocolonialism and fears that the practice could worsen poverty. Yet some organisations think this could be …