World investment report 2009 : transnational corporations, agricultural production and development

The World Investment Report 2009, subtitled 'Transnational Corporations, Agricultural Production and Development' analyses two major issues: How have foreign direct investment (FDI) flows reacted to the current financial and economic crisis?

How do traditional and new foreign investors - transnational corporations (TNCs) - affect agriculture, the basis of livelihood in many developing countries?

According to the report, after decades of slow growth, TNCs' interest and participation in agriculture - including FDI - is again on the rise.

Despite this increase, in most countries today only a small share of FDI goes to agriculture.

Renewed interest by foreign investors in agricultural investment is significant enough to raise questions about whether FDI and other forms of TNC participation in agriculture can contribute to the development of this long neglected industry.

WIR 2009 suggests an integrated policy approach that takes into account concerns arising from TNC involvement.