This presentation identifies three contrasting narratives which define the current debate about ‘land grabbing’ and biofuels: a techno-optimist position, an administrativemanagerial position and a localist-environmental position. Each suggests different responses to the growing phenomenon of large-scale land deals for biofuels. Thepresentation will briefly examine the World Bank’s position as laid out in the recent report, Rising Global Interest in Farmland, and touch on contrasting proposals for land governance currently being discussed. Drawing on cases presented in the recent special issue of the Journal of Peasant Studies on the politics of biofuels, land and agrarian change, the presentation will examine the terms of incorporation in biofuel-driven land deals, highlighting that who wins and who loses depends very much on local negotiations and political economy. The potentials for realising the ideals of governance models which assume high levels of transparency, accountability and capacity is questioned. The presentation will argue that a reframing of the debate is required which focuses on local rights to food, land and livelihoods, of both farmers and labourers, and the importance of developing capacities to defend these through citizen action and mobilisation.