In February 2026, Cartagena, Colombia, hosted the Second International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD+20), bringing together thousands of activists, academics, and policymakers to redefine the fight for land justice. The Access to Land Network (A2L) joined the conversation to highlight a critical message: Europe cannot afford to ignore the global land crisis.
A Conference in a Unique Political Context
Colombia, now led by a progressive government committed to agrarian reform, provided a powerful backdrop for the event. The conference was structured around three pillars: academic research on land tenure and governance, a social movements’ forum, and an inter-governmental conference. Fifty-six countries, including four EU members—Germany, Norway, Spain, and the Netherlands—signed a declaration calling for broader social participation, peaceful dispute resolution, and recognition of collective land rights. However, the declaration was not without controversy. Many social movements rejected it, arguing that it conflated Indigenous peoples with local communities, a move seen as an attempt to limit Indigenous political voice.
A2L’s Takeaways: What the Conference Means for Europe
ICARRD+20 made it clear that agrarian reform is not a relic of the past but a necessity for addressing structural inequalities, climate justice, and the legacies of colonialism. For Europe, this means challenging land concentration, addressing generational renewal, and ensuring that EU policies, such as the EU Land Observatory, center justice—not just data.
The conference also highlighted the 4Rs framework—Recognition, Redistribution, Restitution, and Regulation—as a roadmap for land justice. However, the term “agrarian reform” remains controversial in some European contexts, such as Eastern Germany. A2L can engage by using alternative language, such as “land justice” or “access to land,” and by building alliances with movements across Europe.
The Global Land Observatory: A Tool for Change—or a Missed Opportunity?
The Global Land Observatory (GLO), a new initiative by the FAO, aims to monitor land governance worldwide. While it holds promise for collaboration, critical questions remain: What data will it collect? How will governance ensure participation? Will it connect to existing frameworks like the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT)? A2L’s hope is that the EU Land Observatory can learn from the GLO’s challenges and prioritize transparency and inclusivity.
AGTER’s Critical Perspective: Where ICARRD+20 Falls Short
A2L’s ally AGTER offered a blunt assessment: While ICARRD+20 succeeded in consolidating social movements and enlarging alliances, it failed to secure real accountability from states. The final declaration was criticized for conflating Indigenous peoples with local communities, obscuring the specific rights recognized for Indigenous peoples under international law. AGTER’s call to action is clear: Without binding commitments and mechanisms to hold states accountable, future ICARRD conferences risk repeating empty declarations.
What’s Next for A2L?
A2L will continue to engage with the EU Land Observatory, advocating for civil society inclusion and pushing for tracking land concentration, speculation, and generational renewal. Upcoming events, such as the Nyéléni Europe and Central Asia meeting in April 2026 and the A2L/TNI European Seminar in November 2026, will provide opportunities to connect with European land justice movements and share strategies.
Land reform is not just a Global South issue—it’s a European one. The Global Land Observatory and EU Land Observatory could be useful tools, but their effectiveness depends on collective pressure. A2L’s role may be limited, but our voice can still matter. We can raise awareness, connect local struggles to global movements, and advocate for policies that prioritize fair access to land and generational renewal. The question is not whether we can change the world overnight, but whether we can contribute to the conversation in a way that makes a difference.