Africa's seeds laws: red carpet for corporations by GRAIN | 9 Jul 2005 Seedling - July 2005 Up until the 1990s, seed regulations in Africa were generally organised around public seed programmes, with seed laws, where they existed, mostly limited to import and export restrictions. There was little coordination between countries, with regulations often heavily influenced by the respective donors and very little enforcement on the ground. Indeed, with few exceptions, the vast majority of African farmers have hardly been affected by seed laws or regulations. But out of the larger context of structural adjustment programmes, trade liberalisation, and the consolidation of a transnational seed industry desperate to expand markets, processes have sprouted up over the past decade that are fast-forwarding the implementation of industry-friendly regulations and laws, with scant regard for the impacts on farmer seed systems. Up until the 1990s, seed regulations in Africa were generally organised around public seed programmes, with seed laws, where they existed, mostly limited to import and export restrictions. There was little coordination between countries, with regulations often heavily influenced by the respective donors and very little enforcement on the ground. Indeed, with few exceptions, the vast majority of African farmers have hardly been affected by seed laws or regulations. But out of the larger context of structural adjustment programmes, trade liberalisation, and the consolidation of a transnational seed industry desperate to expand markets, processes have sprouted up over the past decade that are fast-forwarding the implementation of industry-friendly regulations and laws, with scant regard for the impacts on farmer seed systems.
Latin America: privatising seed laws by GRAIN | 5 Jul 2005 Seedling - July 2005 New seed laws are being introduced throughout Latin America. While government intervention in market processes continues to decline in the region, when it comes to seed legislation the states have been laying down some strict laws. These laws vary considerably between each country, but a universal theme that unites them is to provide better protection of private seed varieties developed by companies and sideline farmers’ own seeds. In many cases, farmers’ own seeds are, or will become, illegal. New seed laws are being introduced throughout Latin America. While government intervention in market processes continues to decline in the region, when it comes to seed legislation the states have been laying down some strict laws. These laws vary considerably between each country, but a universal theme that unites them is to provide better protection of private seed varieties developed by companies and sideline farmers’ own seeds. In many cases, farmers’ own seeds are, or will become, illegal.
Sharing power: learning by doing in co-management of natural resources throughout the world by GRAIN | 3 Jul 2005 Seedling - July 2005 GRAIN review of "Sharing power: learning by doing in co-management of natural resources throughout the world" by Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend, Michel Pimbert, M. Taghi Farvar, Ashish Kotari and Yves Renard GRAIN review of "Sharing power: learning by doing in co-management of natural resources throughout the world" by Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend, Michel Pimbert, M. Taghi Farvar, Ashish Kotari and Yves Renard
International Coalition to Protect the Polish Countryside by | 29 Jun 2005 Web page for their anti-GM campaign. As of June 2005, 80% of Poland declared GM-free zones. Web page for their anti-GM campaign. As of June 2005, 80% of Poland declared GM-free zones.
Current developments and trends in the field of intellectual property: implications for Arab countries by Ahmed Abdel Latif | 28 Jun 2005
Statement by civil-society on biotech ECOWAS conference by INADES-Formation, ROPPA, RECAO, Consumers International, CPPGM & CPPGAF | 24 Jun 2005 NEWS RELEASE: Civil society statement at the closing of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African states) Ministerial Conference on biotechnology in West African agriculture (24 June 2004) NEWS RELEASE: Civil society statement at the closing of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African states) Ministerial Conference on biotechnology in West African agriculture (24 June 2004)
Community Harvest (June 2005) by Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network | 23 Jun 2005 This is the winter 2005 issue of the ACFCGN newsletter, Community Harvest. The network especialises on building local food cultures though promotion and establishment of community gardens. This is the winter 2005 issue of the ACFCGN newsletter, Community Harvest. The network especialises on building local food cultures though promotion and establishment of community gardens.
Bt Cotton in KwaZulu Natal: Technological Triumph but Institutional Failure by Marnus Gouse, Johann Kirsten, Bhavani Shankar and Colin Thirtle | 17 Jun 2005 A look back at the original Reading University study that challenges its conclusions. A look back at the original Reading University study that challenges its conclusions.
How to Sue a Corporation: Get yourself legal protection from corporations selling GE seeds by Greenpeace | 16 Jun 2005 Thousands of farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra are suffering because they have not received any compensation following the failure of Bt. cotton crop. This is a manual to help ensure farmers from penury and corporate control. Thousands of farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra are suffering because they have not received any compensation following the failure of Bt. cotton crop. This is a manual to help ensure farmers from penury and corporate control.
Article 27.3(b), relationship between the TRIPS Agreement and the CBD, and the protection of traditional knowledge and folklore by USA | 10 Jun 2005
Article 27.3(b), relationship between the TRIPS Agreement and the CBD and protection of traditional knowledge and folklore by Peru | 8 Jun 2005
Pesticide productivity and transgenic cotton technology: The South African smallholder case by B. Shankar and C. Thirtle, Journal of Agricultural Economics 56 (1): 97-116. | 7 Jun 2005
Costs of Bt cotton production in South Sulawesi province in 2001 season by Alimuddin Musbar, farmer from Bulukumba | 6 Jun 2005