The FAO seed treaty: from farmers' rights to breeders' privileges by GRAIN | 18 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture – sometimes called the ‘seed treaty’ – was adopted by UN Food and Agriculture (FAO) member states in 2001 and came into force in 2004. Governments that signed on are now working out implementation details. Far from its roots in the struggle to assert farmers’ rights as a counterforce to breeders’ rights, the Treaty has ended up being mainly about granting new privileges to industry. It will give seed companies free access to most of the world’s public genebanks without any obligation to share their own materials in return. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture – sometimes called the ‘seed treaty’ – was adopted by UN Food and Agriculture (FAO) member states in 2001 and came into force in 2004. Governments that signed on are now working out implementation details. Far from its roots in the struggle to assert farmers’ rights as a counterforce to breeders’ rights, the Treaty has ended up being mainly about granting new privileges to industry. It will give seed companies free access to most of the world’s public genebanks without any obligation to share their own materials in return.
Blue fishers, blue genes: fishy undercurrents in post-tsunami Asia by GRAIN | 15 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 At the same time as Asia’s fisherfolk are urging their governments to help re-establish artisanal fisheries after last year’s tsunami, an international ‘tsunami-recovery’ consortium is suggesting that they should abandon their livelihoods and find employment elsewhere. The fisherfolk also face other challenges – from growing pressures to switch over to industrial aquaculture and fishering, and the introduction of genetically modified fish. At the same time as Asia’s fisherfolk are urging their governments to help re-establish artisanal fisheries after last year’s tsunami, an international ‘tsunami-recovery’ consortium is suggesting that they should abandon their livelihoods and find employment elsewhere. The fisherfolk also face other challenges – from growing pressures to switch over to industrial aquaculture and fishering, and the introduction of genetically modified fish.
The corporation - psychopathic and immortal by GRAIN | 12 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 Review and summary by GRAIN of the book and film "The Corporation" by Joel Bakan. Review and summary by GRAIN of the book and film "The Corporation" by Joel Bakan.
Whither Biosafety? In these days of Monsanto Laws, hope for real biosafety lies at the grassroots by GRAIN | 11 Oct 2005 Across the world processes to draw-up national biosafety laws are increasingly disconnected from the people they are supposed to serve. Drafting typically takes place behind closed doors, between local elites and foreign "experts" of the GM lobby, with corporations close at hand to steer the discussion. Meanwhile, those with the most at stake from any introduction of GM crops, the rural communities, are completely marginalised from the processes. Across the world processes to draw-up national biosafety laws are increasingly disconnected from the people they are supposed to serve. Drafting typically takes place behind closed doors, between local elites and foreign "experts" of the GM lobby, with corporations close at hand to steer the discussion. Meanwhile, those with the most at stake from any introduction of GM crops, the rural communities, are completely marginalised from the processes.
Jack Kloppenburg by GRAIN | 10 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 Jack Kloppenburg is Professor of Rural Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US. He is well known for his analysis of the emergent social impacts of biotechnology, and for his work on the global controversy over access to and control of biodiversity. His recently-updated book First the Seed: The Political Economy of Plant Biotechnology is regarded as a seminal work in this field. It was key in waking many people up to the social implications of biotechnology (including some of us at GRAIN), particularly with respect to the food system. Since then his work has broadened out to include working on ways to counter the growing corporatisation of the food system, focusing particularly on keeping the food supply sustainable, self-reliant and locally produced. He can be contacted at jrkloppe(at)facstaff.wisc.edu. Jack Kloppenburg is Professor of Rural Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US. He is well known for his analysis of the emergent social impacts of biotechnology, and for his work on the global controversy over access to and control of biodiversity. His recently-updated book First the Seed: The Political Economy of Plant Biotechnology is regarded as a seminal work in this field. It was key in waking many people up to the social implications of biotechnology (including some of us at GRAIN), particularly with respect to the food system. Since then his work has broadened out to include working on ways to counter the growing corporatisation of the food system, focusing particularly on keeping the food supply sustainable, self-reliant and locally produced. He can be contacted at jrkloppe(at)facstaff.wisc.edu.
Tribal rights (f)or wrongs in India by GRAIN | 8 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 The rights of traditional tribal communities have been at the centre of many a struggle with the State. But it’s another story when within the State machinery itself there are disagreements on if and how communities ought to control forest resources. So it has been in India. The rights of traditional tribal communities have been at the centre of many a struggle with the State. But it’s another story when within the State machinery itself there are disagreements on if and how communities ought to control forest resources. So it has been in India.
Argentina Ag Secretary says Monsanto EU patent claims wrong by GRAIN | 7 Oct 2005 BIO-IPR (1997-2009)
WIPO members create new forum to discuss development agenda by GRAIN | 6 Oct 2005 BIO-IPR (1997-2009)
Planting Bollgard cotton is illegal in Brazil by Etienne Vernet, Polaris Institute, Brazil | 1 Oct 2005 Details legal situation of GM cotton in Brazil as of September 2005. Details legal situation of GM cotton in Brazil as of September 2005.
Changes in Cry1Ac Bt Transgenic Cotton in Response to Two Environmental Factors: Temperature and Insect Damage by K.M. Olsen et al., J. Econ. Entomol. 98(4): 1382 | 21 Sep 2005 Study concludes that changes in temperature and insect damage to the plants have a significant effect on Bt cotton's ability to resist damage from insects. Study concludes that changes in temperature and insect damage to the plants have a significant effect on Bt cotton's ability to resist damage from insects.
Marketing of Bt Cotton in India Aggressive, Unscrupulous and False&. by Greenpeace India and the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, India | 20 Sep 2005 Investigates the tactics used by Monsanto's Indian subsidiary, Monsanto-Mahyco, and its sub-licensee Bt Cotton seed companies to promote Bt cotton among Indian farmers. Investigates the tactics used by Monsanto's Indian subsidiary, Monsanto-Mahyco, and its sub-licensee Bt Cotton seed companies to promote Bt cotton among Indian farmers.
The effect of high temperature on the insecticidal properties of Bt Cotton by Dehua Chen, Guoyou Ye, Changqin Yang, Yuan Chen, Yunkang Wu - Environmental and Experimental Botany 53 (2005) 333-342 | 12 Sep 2005 Investigates whether high-temperatures may be a cause of Bt cotton's problems with resistance to bollworm in China. Investigates whether high-temperatures may be a cause of Bt cotton's problems with resistance to bollworm in China.