Open letter to Pascal Lamy on TRIPS 27.3(b) review by GRAIN | 15 Feb 2003 Last September, the EU sent a concept paper to the TRIPS Council on the review of Article 27.3(b). While we didn't see much new in it back then, it is now making the news. To counterbalance some of the misguided media reports, we are issuing an open letter to Pascal Lamy, the EU's Commissioner for Trade. Last September, the EU sent a concept paper to the TRIPS Council on the review of Article 27.3(b). While we didn't see much new in it back then, it is now making the news. To counterbalance some of the misguided media reports, we are issuing an open letter to Pascal Lamy, the EU's Commissioner for Trade.
Traditional knowledge of biodiversity in Asia-Pacific: Problems of piracy and protection by GRAIN | 22 Nov 2002 A new briefing on the state of traditional knowledge and biodiversity in the Asia-Pacific region. GRAIN's 30-page briefing provides details, with numerous examples, of the changes that are occurring in Asia-Pacific; from international agreements, and regional initiatives to action taken by farming communities. Many people at the grassroots level are working to fight back and protect their resources and knowledge from blatant exploitation. Emerging strategies on what communities and organisations could do to further ensure the strengthening of community rights are outlined. A new briefing on the state of traditional knowledge and biodiversity in the Asia-Pacific region. GRAIN's 30-page briefing provides details, with numerous examples, of the changes that are occurring in Asia-Pacific; from international agreements, and regional initiatives to action taken by farming communities. Many people at the grassroots level are working to fight back and protect their resources and knowledge from blatant exploitation. Emerging strategies on what communities and organisations could do to further ensure the strengthening of community rights are outlined.
Genetically Modified Crops in African Agriculture: Implications for Small Farmers by Devlin Kuyek | 3 Aug 2002 The briefing looks at the push to bring genetically modified (GM) crops and technologies to Africa and shows the implications for farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa. Is this new technology appropriate for African agricultural systems and what are the implications if it is taken up? What will the introduction of GM crops mean for Africa and its small farmers in particular? Is there any reason to believe that the new gene revolution will be any more successful than the failed Green Revolution in Africa? The briefing looks at the push to bring genetically modified (GM) crops and technologies to Africa and shows the implications for farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa. Is this new technology appropriate for African agricultural systems and what are the implications if it is taken up? What will the introduction of GM crops mean for Africa and its small farmers in particular? Is there any reason to believe that the new gene revolution will be any more successful than the failed Green Revolution in Africa?
Intellectual Property Rights in African Agriculture: Implications for Small Farmers by Devlin Kuyek | 2 Aug 2002 This briefing aims to provide rural community workers, farmers and policy makers in Africa with information that will contribute to their understanding of the implications of IPRs on plant genetic resources for small farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa. It situates the emergence of IPRs on plant genetic resources within a larger history, in which the innovative strength and traditions of African farming communities have been consistently disregarded. It concludes that the emergence of IPRs in African agriculture is highly detrimental to local food production and small farming systems, and that a reorientation of policies is urgently needed. This briefing aims to provide rural community workers, farmers and policy makers in Africa with information that will contribute to their understanding of the implications of IPRs on plant genetic resources for small farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa. It situates the emergence of IPRs on plant genetic resources within a larger history, in which the innovative strength and traditions of African farming communities have been consistently disregarded. It concludes that the emergence of IPRs in African agriculture is highly detrimental to local food production and small farming systems, and that a reorientation of policies is urgently needed.
WIPO moves toward 'world' patent system by GRAIN | 10 Jul 2002 In the last few years the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), a United Nations body mandated to promote intellectual property rights, has started building a “world patent” system. It may mean the end of patent policy as a tool for national development strategies and is likely to overtake the World Trade Organisation’s TRIPS agreement. Any deviation from its rules would be subject to some kind of sanction: it would be the final word. In the last few years the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), a United Nations body mandated to promote intellectual property rights, has started building a “world patent” system. It may mean the end of patent policy as a tool for national development strategies and is likely to overtake the World Trade Organisation’s TRIPS agreement. Any deviation from its rules would be subject to some kind of sanction: it would be the final word.
A challenge for Asia - the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources by GRAIN and Kalpavriksh (India) | 19 Apr 2002 This briefing looks at the implications of the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources on Asian farmers. This briefing looks at the implications of the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources on Asian farmers.
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.
NO PATENTS ON RICE! NO PATENTS ON LIFE! by Statement from peoples' movements and NGOs across Asia | 1 Aug 2001
TRIPS-plus through the back door by GRAIN | 27 Jul 2001 GRAIN has done a sample survey of bilateral agreements between developed and developing countries in five areas to see how TRIPS-plus standards are being pushed on developing countries with respect to biodiversity… GRAIN has done a sample survey of bilateral agreements between developed and developing countries in five areas to see how TRIPS-plus standards are being pushed on developing countries with respect to biodiversity…
Intellectual Property Rights: Ultimate control of agricultural R&D in Asia by Devlin Kuyek, Biothai (Thailand), GRAIN, KMP (Philippines), MASIPAG (Philippines), PAN Indonesia, Philippine Greens and UBINIG (Bangladesh), Dr Romeo Quijano and Dr Oscar B. Zamora | 25 Mar 2001
Grains of delusion: Golden rice seen from the ground by Biothai (Thailand), CEDAC (Cambodia), DRCSC (India), GRAIN, MASIPAG (Philippines), PAN-Indonesia and UBINIG (Bangladesh) | 25 Feb 2001 The promoters of golden rice say that they do not want to deprive the poor of the right to choose and the potential to benefit from golden rice. But the poor, and especially poor farmers, have long been deprived of the right to choose their means of production and survival. Golden rice is not going to change that, and any further attempts at the commercial exploitation of hunger and malnutrition through the promotion of genetically modified foods should be strongly resisted. The promoters of golden rice say that they do not want to deprive the poor of the right to choose and the potential to benefit from golden rice. But the poor, and especially poor farmers, have long been deprived of the right to choose their means of production and survival. Golden rice is not going to change that, and any further attempts at the commercial exploitation of hunger and malnutrition through the promotion of genetically modified foods should be strongly resisted.
ISAAA in Asia: Promoting corporate profits in the name of the poor by Devlin Kuyek, Biothai (Thailand), GRAIN, KMP (Philippines), MASIPAG (Philippines), PAN Indonesia, Philippine Greens and UBINIG (Bangladesh), Dr Romeo Quijano and Dr Oscar B. Zamora | 25 Oct 2000