FROM THE EDITORS by GRAIN | 25 Jun 1996 Seedling - June 1996 Facing up to the negotiations in FAO and the Convention on Biological Diversity this year, the Editors wrap up the three articles in this issue related to the industrialisation of agriculture and commodification of genetic resources with a brief reflection on the Global Plan of Action which is up for discussion this month in Leipzig. Facing up to the negotiations in FAO and the Convention on Biological Diversity this year, the Editors wrap up the three articles in this issue related to the industrialisation of agriculture and commodification of genetic resources with a brief reflection on the Global Plan of Action which is up for discussion this month in Leipzig.
EX SITU CONSERVATION: WHEN THE FRIDGE BREAKS DOWN by GRAIN | 20 Jun 1996 Seedling - June 1996 The Report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources recently published by FAO confirms what NGOs have been arguing for years: the seeds are not necessarily safe in the genebanks. The Report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources recently published by FAO confirms what NGOs have been arguing for years: the seeds are not necessarily safe in the genebanks.
CGIAR RENEWAL: BEYOND CATCHY WORDING? by GRAIN | 15 Jun 1996 Seedling - June 1996 Evidence keeps accumulating to demonstrate that Green Revolution agriculture is unsustainable and that industrial agriculture is in crisis. However, a close look at the `renewal process' the CGIAR claims to have gone through leaves NGOs wondering if the new CGIAR agenda will not lead to more of the same. Evidence keeps accumulating to demonstrate that Green Revolution agriculture is unsustainable and that industrial agriculture is in crisis. However, a close look at the `renewal process' the CGIAR claims to have gone through leaves NGOs wondering if the new CGIAR agenda will not lead to more of the same.
UPOV: GETTING A FREE TRIPs RIDE? by GRAIN | 11 Jun 1996 Seedling - June 1996 Developing countries are being pressured by industrialised countries and the GATT-related TRIPs agreements to urgently adopt UPOV-like legislation providing for intellectual property rights on plant varieties. Yet governments should realise that they have both time and other options. Developing countries are being pressured by industrialised countries and the GATT-related TRIPs agreements to urgently adopt UPOV-like legislation providing for intellectual property rights on plant varieties. Yet governments should realise that they have both time and other options.
1996: THE YEAR OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY? by GRAIN | 25 Mar 1996 Seedling - March 1996 | Seeds As a number of important internacional negotiations on agricultural biodiversity get underway, there is a political challenge to achieve a central position for the role and contribution of Third World countries and resource-poor farmers in the management of plant genetic resources. As a number of important internacional negotiations on agricultural biodiversity get underway, there is a political challenge to achieve a central position for the role and contribution of Third World countries and resource-poor farmers in the management of plant genetic resources.
NOVEL FOODS, OLD TRICKS by GRAIN | 20 Mar 1996 Seedling - March 1996 The agrobiotech industry has finally started to bring its genetically modified products to the market, and, to smooth their path, it is concentrating its lobbying efforts in two main areas: deregulating the use and release of genetically manipulated organisms (GMOs) and minimising the labelling of its products. The agrobiotech industry has finally started to bring its genetically modified products to the market, and, to smooth their path, it is concentrating its lobbying efforts in two main areas: deregulating the use and release of genetically manipulated organisms (GMOs) and minimising the labelling of its products.
THE VALUE OF SANGRE DE DRAGO by Viki Reyes | 15 Mar 1996 Seedling - March 1996 While companies like Shaman Pharmaceuticals use the traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities as part of their research strategies, the question remains as to whether the commercialisation of traditional genetic resources benefits those communities and biodiversity conservation. While companies like Shaman Pharmaceuticals use the traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities as part of their research strategies, the question remains as to whether the commercialisation of traditional genetic resources benefits those communities and biodiversity conservation.
ENGINEERED BT: FROM PEST TO MARKET CONTROL by GRAIN | 25 Dec 1995 Seedling - December 1995 As chemical pesticides are increasingly rejected, the agrochemical industry is rushing to develop alternatives suiting its corporate interests. Side-stepping predicted resistance problems, it is focusing investment on Bacillus thuringiensis. An update. As chemical pesticides are increasingly rejected, the agrochemical industry is rushing to develop alternatives suiting its corporate interests. Side-stepping predicted resistance problems, it is focusing investment on Bacillus thuringiensis. An update.
PEOPLE'S RIGHTS TO BIODIVERSITY DISCUSSED IN CBD by GRAIN | 20 Dec 1995 Seedling - December 1995 As it was seen at COP II in Jakarta, the Convention on Biological Diversity seems to be slowly moving towards the incorporation of some of the concerns of indigenous and local communities. As it was seen at COP II in Jakarta, the Convention on Biological Diversity seems to be slowly moving towards the incorporation of some of the concerns of indigenous and local communities.
WILL INDIA PROTECT TRIBAL BIODIVERSITY RIGHTS? by Ashish Kothari | 15 Dec 1995 Seedling - December 1995 The discovery of anti-malarian activity in a plant used by the Onge tribe for medicinal purposes may lead to its expropriation unless India's government takes immediate measures. The discovery of anti-malarian activity in a plant used by the Onge tribe for medicinal purposes may lead to its expropriation unless India's government takes immediate measures.
GENETIC RESOURCES ON THE INTERNET by GRAIN | 11 Dec 1995 Seedling - December 1995 Since the Internet is also providing information in the area of plant genetic resources, Seedling will be including a regular part on the Internet in our section "Resources & Documentation". Since the Internet is also providing information in the area of plant genetic resources, Seedling will be including a regular part on the Internet in our section "Resources & Documentation".
TOWARDS A BIODIVERSITY COMMUNITY RIGHTS REGIME by GRAIN | 25 Oct 1995 Seedling - October 1995 As an alternative to Northern-style IPRs, GRAIN argues for a local community rights regime based on Heritage, Territoriality and Communality, which would be constructed into both the Biodiversity Convention and the FAO Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources. As an alternative to Northern-style IPRs, GRAIN argues for a local community rights regime based on Heritage, Territoriality and Communality, which would be constructed into both the Biodiversity Convention and the FAO Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources.
THE POTATO BLIGHT IS BACK by RAFI | 20 Oct 1995 Seedling - October 1995 The late potato blight, P. infestans, which was responsible for the Great Irish Famine last century, is back in a deadlier form and many fear that the short-sightness of breeders and governments may jeopardise the food security of the millions of Third World families for whom potatoes are an important staple crop. The late potato blight, P. infestans, which was responsible for the Great Irish Famine last century, is back in a deadlier form and many fear that the short-sightness of breeders and governments may jeopardise the food security of the millions of Third World families for whom potatoes are an important staple crop.