Contributor(s): Fred Pearce, Professor Anthony Hall, Dr Charles Palmer | ‘Land grabbing’ has been described as the most profound ethical, environmental, economic and social issue in the world today. Financial speculation and concerns over food security are driving the acquisition of vast areas of land by foreign entities from beneath the feet of its occupiers in Africa, South-east Asia, South America and Eastern Europe. This debate examines the relative impact of land grabbing on the lives of poor people across the globe. Fred Pearce is an environment, science, and development writer. He writes regularly for New Scientist and the Guardian, and is author of When The Rivers Run Dry and The Landgrabbers. Anthony Hall is professor of Social Policy at LSE. Charles Palmer is lecturer in Environment and Development at LSE.