Bt Cotton....through the back door by GRAIN | 26 Dec 2001 Seedling - December 2001 Despite the absence of commercial approval for genetically engineered Bt cotton in any Asian country outside China, it is spreading fast. This article summarises the state of play in Thailand, India and Indonesia, and considers the consequences for small-scale farmers, who have historically been important contributors to the global cotton harvest. Despite the absence of commercial approval for genetically engineered Bt cotton in any Asian country outside China, it is spreading fast. This article summarises the state of play in Thailand, India and Indonesia, and considers the consequences for small-scale farmers, who have historically been important contributors to the global cotton harvest.
Protecting Asia's most valuable resource by GRAIN | 24 Dec 2001 Seedling - December 2001 This article discusses the implications of recent developments in relation to the US company RiceTec's patent claims on Basmati rice. It also draws attention to a more recent case of attempted biopiracy of Thailand's prized Jasmine rice. This article discusses the implications of recent developments in relation to the US company RiceTec's patent claims on Basmati rice. It also draws attention to a more recent case of attempted biopiracy of Thailand's prized Jasmine rice.
The new bilateralism in intellectual property by Peter Drahos | 17 Dec 2001 http://www.maketradefair.org/assets/english/bilateralism.pdf http://www.maketradefair.org/assets/english/bilateralism.pdf
International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources: The Final Stretch by GRAIN | 16 Oct 2001 This short briefing provides an easy-to-read analysis of the final steps in the IU negotiations and comes at a crucial time for the protection of the planet's agricultural genetic resources. Several issues in the final stretch of the IU still remain unresolved. The briefing provides details of the unanswered issues important for farmers and food security, and the facts on acceptable and unacceptable solutions. This short briefing provides an easy-to-read analysis of the final steps in the IU negotiations and comes at a crucial time for the protection of the planet's agricultural genetic resources. Several issues in the final stretch of the IU still remain unresolved. The briefing provides details of the unanswered issues important for farmers and food security, and the facts on acceptable and unacceptable solutions.
Change and the CGIAR: a contradiction in terms? by Susanne Gura | 29 Sep 2001 Seedling - September 2001 This article points to the challenges the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)continues to face after a decade of calls for environmentally sustainable agriculture, for an approach to science that acknowledges farmers' research, and for defending public goods from corporate appropriation. This article points to the challenges the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)continues to face after a decade of calls for environmentally sustainable agriculture, for an approach to science that acknowledges farmers' research, and for defending public goods from corporate appropriation.
Apomixis: the plant breeder's dream by GRAIN | 26 Sep 2001 Seedling - September 2001 In discussions of the benefits genetic engineering can bring to small farmers, proponents love to point to apomixis - the production of cloned seed. This article examines apomixis research, and the main implications that transferring apomixis into crops may have for industry, farmers and the environment. It also looks at how the apomixis research agenda is being up led by the private sector through patent applications, licensing agreements and confidential research projects. In discussions of the benefits genetic engineering can bring to small farmers, proponents love to point to apomixis - the production of cloned seed. This article examines apomixis research, and the main implications that transferring apomixis into crops may have for industry, farmers and the environment. It also looks at how the apomixis research agenda is being up led by the private sector through patent applications, licensing agreements and confidential research projects.
The impact of soybean expansion in Argentina by Walter Pengue | 24 Sep 2001 Seedling - September 2001 In the past two decades, soybean production has increased sharply in the Pampas region of Argentina. Genetically modified (GM) soybeans have been particularly popular to the extent that all soybean production is now GM. This article provides a resume of the original article by Pengue on the socio-economic and environmental implications of the exponential growth of transgenic soybean production in one of the world’s leading soybean-producing countries. In the past two decades, soybean production has increased sharply in the Pampas region of Argentina. Genetically modified (GM) soybeans have been particularly popular to the extent that all soybean production is now GM. This article provides a resume of the original article by Pengue on the socio-economic and environmental implications of the exponential growth of transgenic soybean production in one of the world’s leading soybean-producing countries.
Sprouting Up: World Food Summit - Five Years Later by GRAIN | 22 Sep 2001 Seedling - September 2001 NGOs and the World Food Summit& NGOs and the World Food Summit&