The new farm owners: corporate investors lead the rush for control over overseas farmland by GRAIN | 20 Nov 2010 The two big global crises that erupted in 2008 – the world food crisis and the broader financial crisis that the food crisis has been part of are together spawning a new and disturbing trend towards buying up land for outsourced food production. For the past two years, investors have been scrambling to take control of farmland in in Asia, Africa and Latin America. A background article on landgrabbing by GRAIN, published as a chapter in the Monthly Review Press book 'Agriculture and food in crisis'. The two big global crises that erupted in 2008 – the world food crisis and the broader financial crisis that the food crisis has been part of are together spawning a new and disturbing trend towards buying up land for outsourced food production. For the past two years, investors have been scrambling to take control of farmland in in Asia, Africa and Latin America. A background article on landgrabbing by GRAIN, published as a chapter in the Monthly Review Press book 'Agriculture and food in crisis'.
From green to gene revolution: How farmers lost control of the seeds from agricultural modernisation (2010) by GRAIN and PEAC | 30 Oct 2010 This downloadable pamphlet is developed by GRAIN and the Pesticides Eco-Alternatives Centre (PEAC) to raise Chinese farmers' awareness about the broad historical context of industrial agriculture, and how it paved the way for the introduction of modern varieties of crops and agricultural technologies. Available in Mandarin. A shorter version (brochure) published by PEAC is also available. This downloadable pamphlet is developed by GRAIN and the Pesticides Eco-Alternatives Centre (PEAC) to raise Chinese farmers' awareness about the broad historical context of industrial agriculture, and how it paved the way for the introduction of modern varieties of crops and agricultural technologies. Available in Mandarin. A shorter version (brochure) published by PEAC is also available.
From green to gene revolution: How farmers lost control of the seeds from agricultural modernisation by GRAIN and PEAC | 9 Oct 2010 This article was written by GRAIN and the Pesticides Eco-Alternatives Centre (PEAC) in China to raise Chinese farmers' awareness about the broad historical context of industrial agriculture, and how it paved the way for the introduction of modern varieties of crops and agricultural technologies. Also available in Mandarin. This article was written by GRAIN and the Pesticides Eco-Alternatives Centre (PEAC) in China to raise Chinese farmers' awareness about the broad historical context of industrial agriculture, and how it paved the way for the introduction of modern varieties of crops and agricultural technologies. Also available in Mandarin.
Seedling - October 2010 1 Oct 2010 The October 2010 issue of Seedling features an article by GRAIN on the global expansion of industrial meat production and the rise of a new crop of transnational meat corporations based in countries of the South. In another article, GRAIN looks at what's happening on the climate change front with a special focus on the outcome of the Peoples Summit in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Also in this issue, are two articles by the World Rainforest Movement, one on the push for "carbon shopping in forests" and another on the Roundtable for Responsible Palm Oil's role in expanding monoculture oil palm plantations. Plus, South African researcher Rachel Wynberg takes a critical look back at the experiences of the San peoples of southern Africa with the high-profile case of access-and-benefit sharing concerning the Hoodia plant. And more..... (download pdf version from document tools) The October 2010 issue of Seedling features an article by GRAIN on the global expansion of industrial meat production and the rise of a new crop of transnational meat corporations based in countries of the South. In another article, GRAIN looks at what's happening on the climate change front with a special focus on the outcome of the Peoples Summit in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Also in this issue, are two articles by the World Rainforest Movement, one on the push for "carbon shopping in forests" and another on the Roundtable for Responsible Palm Oil's role in expanding monoculture oil palm plantations. Plus, South African researcher Rachel Wynberg takes a critical look back at the experiences of the San peoples of southern Africa with the high-profile case of access-and-benefit sharing concerning the Hoodia plant. And more..... (download pdf version from document tools)
World Bank report on land grabbing: beyond the smoke and mirrors by GRAIN | 8 Sep 2010 Land On 7 September 2010, the World Bank finally published its much anticipated report on the global farmland grab. GRAIN's take on the report is that it is both a disappointment and a failure. Very little new and solid data about how these land grab deals are playing out on the ground is presented. The findings that the Bank does articulate -- that the land grab trend is huge and growing, that communities are not benefiting and that the conditions under which most of these deals are being pursued are extremely poor -- corroborate what many have been saying for two years already. The Bank's own direct involvement in the global land grab is hardly mentioned. Most of the report is smoke and mirrors talk about potentials and opportunities, leading us to the conclusion that there is a huge disconnect between what the World Bank says, what is happening on the ground and what is truly needed. Right now, numerous governments and civil society organisations are calling to put a brake of one form or another on these land grab deals, which the study essentially ignores. On 7 September 2010, the World Bank finally published its much anticipated report on the global farmland grab. GRAIN's take on the report is that it is both a disappointment and a failure. Very little new and solid data about how these land grab deals are playing out on the ground is presented. The findings that the Bank does articulate -- that the land grab trend is huge and growing, that communities are not benefiting and that the conditions under which most of these deals are being pursued are extremely poor -- corroborate what many have been saying for two years already. The Bank's own direct involvement in the global land grab is hardly mentioned. Most of the report is smoke and mirrors talk about potentials and opportunities, leading us to the conclusion that there is a huge disconnect between what the World Bank says, what is happening on the ground and what is truly needed. Right now, numerous governments and civil society organisations are calling to put a brake of one form or another on these land grab deals, which the study essentially ignores.
Seedling - July 2010 21 Jul 2010 GRAIN has been around since 1990, and to celebrate this we have devoted most of this issue of Seedling to looking at how we – and the issues that we deal with – have changed over this period. To mark the occasion, we have also altered our design into one that we feel is modern, practical and pleasing to the eye. GRAIN has been around since 1990, and to celebrate this we have devoted most of this issue of Seedling to looking at how we – and the issues that we deal with – have changed over this period. To mark the occasion, we have also altered our design into one that we feel is modern, practical and pleasing to the eye.
Seedling July 2010 (special 20th anniversary issue) by GRAIN | 21 Jul 2010 Seedling - July 2010 In this GRAIN 20th anniversary issue: Editorial Twenty years of fighting for seeds and food sovereignty Global agribusiness: two decades of plunder Haiti’s farmers call for a break with neoliberalism and Seeds In this GRAIN 20th anniversary issue: Editorial Twenty years of fighting for seeds and food sovereignty Global agribusiness: two decades of plunder Haiti’s farmers call for a break with neoliberalism and Seeds
Asia’s seed laws – Control over farmers' seeds by GRAIN | 10 Jun 2010 A new collaborative briefing, written by GRAIN and published by PANAP (Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific), takes a close look at seed laws in the Asia region. A new collaborative briefing, written by GRAIN and published by PANAP (Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific), takes a close look at seed laws in the Asia region.
The World Bank in the hot seat by GRAIN | 8 May 2010 A curious thing happened last week. A lot of people were under the impression that the World Bank was going to release its long-awaited study on global land grabs at its annual land conference in Washington DC on 26 April 2010. This is what GRAIN was told. It's what many journalists were told. And it's what those involved in producing the study expected. But it didn't happen. What's holding the bank back? A curious thing happened last week. A lot of people were under the impression that the World Bank was going to release its long-awaited study on global land grabs at its annual land conference in Washington DC on 26 April 2010. This is what GRAIN was told. It's what many journalists were told. And it's what those involved in producing the study expected. But it didn't happen. What's holding the bank back?
GM in the public eye in Asia by GRAIN | 8 May 2010 Seeds Public is meant to be for people. But, as in evident with Bt crop research in Asia, “public” agricultural research is becoming less about the needs of ordinary people and small farmers and more about scientific control and corporate interests. The recent controversy around Bt brinjal/eggplant in parts of South and South-east Asia, together with the Bt rice research in China's public sector, show that governments and corporations, be they in competition or co-operation, are pushing the same GM crops into Asia's farms and food supply. This is decisively changing the perception of public agricultural research. People are realising that their public agricultural universities and national research institutes may not really be on their side. Public is meant to be for people. But, as in evident with Bt crop research in Asia, “public” agricultural research is becoming less about the needs of ordinary people and small farmers and more about scientific control and corporate interests. The recent controversy around Bt brinjal/eggplant in parts of South and South-east Asia, together with the Bt rice research in China's public sector, show that governments and corporations, be they in competition or co-operation, are pushing the same GM crops into Asia's farms and food supply. This is decisively changing the perception of public agricultural research. People are realising that their public agricultural universities and national research institutes may not really be on their side.
Feeding the corporate coffers - Why hybrid rice continues to fail Asia's small farmers by Various | 30 Apr 2010 For decades now, hybrid rice has been promoted across Asia as a silver bullet for hunger. But a new collaborative briefing published by GRAIN and several other organisations in Asia and the Pacific* examines how hybrid rice has consistently failed Asia’s small farmers over the past decade. From Bangladesh to China, from the Philippines to Indonesia, the promised increased yield has been elusive in farmers’ fields, and the expansion of hybrid rice is now being linked to a recent upsurge of outbreaks of planthoppers across Asia. Hybrid rice is not being promoted for agricultural development but for the control over farming that it offers and the profits that it generates for the seed and agro-chemical companies. For decades now, hybrid rice has been promoted across Asia as a silver bullet for hunger. But a new collaborative briefing published by GRAIN and several other organisations in Asia and the Pacific* examines how hybrid rice has consistently failed Asia’s small farmers over the past decade. From Bangladesh to China, from the Philippines to Indonesia, the promised increased yield has been elusive in farmers’ fields, and the expansion of hybrid rice is now being linked to a recent upsurge of outbreaks of planthoppers across Asia. Hybrid rice is not being promoted for agricultural development but for the control over farming that it offers and the profits that it generates for the seed and agro-chemical companies.
Seedling April 2010 by GRAIN | 21 Apr 2010 Seedling - April 2010 Turning African farmland over to big business Land grabs threaten Anuak Pastoralism an untold tale of adaptation and survival Watershed cattle Confronting the FAO to stop GMOs .... and more! Turning African farmland over to big business Land grabs threaten Anuak Pastoralism an untold tale of adaptation and survival Watershed cattle Confronting the FAO to stop GMOs .... and more!
Stop land grabbing now by La Via Campesina – FIAN – Land Research Action Network – GRAIN | 10 Apr 2010 Say NO to the principles of “responsible” agro-enterprise investment promoted by the World Bank. State and private investors, from Citadel Capital to Goldman Sachs, are leasing or buying up tens of millions of hectares of farmlands in Asia, Africa and Latin America for food and fuel production. This land grabbing is a serious threat for the food sovereignty of our peoples and the right to food of our rural communities. In response to this new wave of land grabbing, the World Bank is promoting a set of seven principles to guide such investments and make them successful. Say NO to the principles of “responsible” agro-enterprise investment promoted by the World Bank. State and private investors, from Citadel Capital to Goldman Sachs, are leasing or buying up tens of millions of hectares of farmlands in Asia, Africa and Latin America for food and fuel production. This land grabbing is a serious threat for the food sovereignty of our peoples and the right to food of our rural communities. In response to this new wave of land grabbing, the World Bank is promoting a set of seven principles to guide such investments and make them successful.
Land grabbing in Latin America by GRAIN | 29 Mar 2010 Right now communities in Latin America, as around the world, are suffering a new kind of invasion of their territories. Millions of hectares of farmland in Latin America have been taken over by these foreign investors over the past few years for the production of food crops and agrofuels for export. Much of the money comes from US and European pension funds, banks, private equity groups, and wealthy individuals, and it is being channelled through special farmland investment vehicles set up by both foreign and local companies. Right now communities in Latin America, as around the world, are suffering a new kind of invasion of their territories. Millions of hectares of farmland in Latin America have been taken over by these foreign investors over the past few years for the production of food crops and agrofuels for export. Much of the money comes from US and European pension funds, banks, private equity groups, and wealthy individuals, and it is being channelled through special farmland investment vehicles set up by both foreign and local companies.