Photographs: Joe Skipper/Reuters
The increase in the price of agricultural commodities was accompanied by a rise in media reports of huge transnational farmland acquisitions.
Commentators were soon referring to "land grabbing", or to a new "global land rush", according to a report.
So, let's take a look at countries engaged in land acquisitions around the world.
Source: Business Insider.
Click NEXT to see how much land India is buying in foreign countries...
India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Eric Feferberg/Pool/Reuters
India
Total hectares bought: 5,420,209 (about 13.4 million acres)
Big purchase: 4.9 million acres in Indonesia by Tata Power for agriculture
Global rank: 1
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India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Aly Song/Reuters
China
Total hectares bought: 5,354,502 (about 13.2 million acres)
Big purchase: 25,000 acres in Cambodia by the Phou Mady Investment Group for forestry
Global rank: 2
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India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Bret Hartman/Reuters
The United States
Total hectares bought: 4,136,973 (about 10.2 million acres)
Big purchase: 900,000 acres in Indonesia by BHP Billiton for agriculture
Global rank: 3
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India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters
Malaysia
Total hectares bought: 3,397,607 (about 8.4 million acres)
Big purchase: 710,000 acres in Indonesia by Sime Darby Berhad for agriculture
Global rank: 4
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India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Andrew Winning/Reuters
The United Kingdom
Total hectares bought: 3,008,472 (about 7.4 million acres)
Big purchase: 1.7 million acres in the Philippines by NRG Chemicals for agriculture
Global rank: 5
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India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Jo Yong-Hak/Reuters
South Korea
Total hectares bought: 2,696,297 (about 6.7 million acres)
Big purchase: 1 million acres in Cambodia by Kapa Limited for unspecified purposes
Global rank: 6
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India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters
Italy
Total hectares bought: 2,614,792 (about 6.5 million acres)
Big purchase: 4.9 million acres in Indonesia by an unknown investor for agriculture
Global rank: 7
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India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Nir Elias/Reuters
Israel
Total hectares bought: 2,388,000 (about 5.9 million acres)
Big purchase: 4.9 million acres in the Democratic Republic of Congo by an unknown investor for agriculture
Global rank: 8
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India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters
The United Arab Emirates
Total hectares bought: 2,277,856 (about 5.6 million acres)
Big purchase: 4.2 million acres in Sudan by Al Ain National Wildlife for tourism
Global rank: 9
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India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Ali Jarekji/Reuters
Saudi Arabia
Total hectares bought: 2,204,132 (about 5.5 million acres)
Big purchase: 675,000 acres in the Philippines by Eastern Renewable Fuels Corp. for agriculture
Global rank: 10
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India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Mick Tsikas/Reuters
Australia
Total hectares bought: 1,547,616 (about 3.8 million acres)
Big purchase: 880,000 acres in Indonesia by BHP Billiton Limited for agriculture
Global rank: 11
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India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Bob Strong/Reuters
Sweden
Total hectares bought: 1,434,700 (about 3.5 million acres)
Big purchase: 350,000 acres in Mozambique by Global Solidarity Forest Fund for forestry
Global rank: 12
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India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Mark Blinch/Reuters
Canada
Total hectares bought: 1,329,793 (about 3.3 million acres)
Big purchase: 960,000 acres in Australia by Alberta Investment Management Corp. for forestry
Global rank: 13
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India among biggest buyers of land in the world
Photographs: Euroluftbild.de/Reuters
South Africa
Total hectares bought: 1,231,034 (about 3 million acres)
Big purchase: 870,000 acres in Benin by an unknown investor for agriculture
Global rank: 14
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