Act now to stop farms being sold to international buyers, says Doyle

THE Irish family farm is facing a new threat from international buyers who are taking over large tracts of land around the world in the face of rising food prices, it was claimed yesterday.

Fine Gael agriculture spokesman Andrew Doyle, TD, said action must be taken to protect Irish farms from large multi-nationals and even sovereign states, who could threaten the very foundation of farming here.

“Ever since food prices rocketed in 2008, countries like China, Korea and the Gulf states have joined pension funds and multi-national corporations in buying up large parcels of land around the world.