Further reading: good materials on agrofuels by GRAIN | 4 Jul 2007 Seedling - July 2007 The volume of recent articles, papers and other materials on agrofuels can be overwhelming. Below we list some that we found particularly useful when preparing this Seedling. The volume of recent articles, papers and other materials on agrofuels can be overwhelming. Below we list some that we found particularly useful when preparing this Seedling.
Latin America - Soya nexus in South America by GRAIN | 4 Jul 2007 Seedling - July 2007 Along with the rapid expansion of ethanol production, largely manufactured from sugar cane, South America is also beginning to play a key role as a producer of biodiesel. The main feedstock is soya and, for the soya farmers and the multinational grain companies, who were facing problems of overproduction, the new market outlet is a godsend. It gives them the perfect pretext for continuing their take-over of the continent. Along with the rapid expansion of ethanol production, largely manufactured from sugar cane, South America is also beginning to play a key role as a producer of biodiesel. The main feedstock is soya and, for the soya farmers and the multinational grain companies, who were facing problems of overproduction, the new market outlet is a godsend. It gives them the perfect pretext for continuing their take-over of the continent.
Fear over growing WIPO-FAO links by Geoff Tansey | 1 Jul 2007 Seedling - July 2007 Farmers’ and peasants’ lives are increasingly affected by international rules made by governments at remote international meetings. For some time transnational corporations have been using intergovernmental forums to extend their influence over food and farming policies in the developing world. For example, the introduction of rules on intellectual property (e.g. patents and plant variety protection) in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and, via WTO, into agriculture was very much a corporate-driven project. But sometimes smaller, stealthier steps can have an equally disturbing impact. We look at what is going on in two international organisations. Farmers’ and peasants’ lives are increasingly affected by international rules made by governments at remote international meetings. For some time transnational corporations have been using intergovernmental forums to extend their influence over food and farming policies in the developing world. For example, the introduction of rules on intellectual property (e.g. patents and plant variety protection) in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and, via WTO, into agriculture was very much a corporate-driven project. But sometimes smaller, stealthier steps can have an equally disturbing impact. We look at what is going on in two international organisations.
A Meta-Analysis of Effects of Bt Cotton and Maize on Nontarget Invertebrates by Michelle Marvier, Chanel McCreedy, James Regetz, Peter Kareiva - Science, Vol. 316. no. 5830, pp. 1475 - 1477 | 8 Jun 2007
Monsanto moves to tighten its control over Latin America by GRAIN | 5 Jun 2007 For the past two months, the Latin American press has been inundated with news of a fresh offensive by Monsanto in several Latin American countries. The US transnational corporation appears determined to complete the invasion of GM (genetically modified) crops throughout the continent and to crush the resistance that has arisen in response to the company’s attempt to control and dominate Latin American agriculture. For the past two months, the Latin American press has been inundated with news of a fresh offensive by Monsanto in several Latin American countries. The US transnational corporation appears determined to complete the invasion of GM (genetically modified) crops throughout the continent and to crush the resistance that has arisen in response to the company’s attempt to control and dominate Latin American agriculture.
Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India. A photo essay by GRAIN | 1 Jun 2007 Bir is a small village in the Kangra district of the North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is in the Deer Park Institute located at Bir that GRAIN along with its Indian collaborators – Kalpavriksh environment action group and other friends organised a North India level regional workshop on the “Biodiversity Regulation – Legality & Reality” through 17-18 May 2007. The setting in a microcosm reflected the threats to both natural diversity and diverse cultures across the globe; yet it showed people’s resolve to continue to strive and how little efforts could go a long way. Bir is a small village in the Kangra district of the North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is in the Deer Park Institute located at Bir that GRAIN along with its Indian collaborators – Kalpavriksh environment action group and other friends organised a North India level regional workshop on the “Biodiversity Regulation – Legality & Reality” through 17-18 May 2007. The setting in a microcosm reflected the threats to both natural diversity and diverse cultures across the globe; yet it showed people’s resolve to continue to strive and how little efforts could go a long way.
Performance of Bt cotton (MECH-162) under Integrated Pest Management in by O. M. Bambawale, Amerika Singh, O. P. Sharma, B. B. Bhosle, R. C. | 25 May 2007
April 2007 by GRAIN | 22 Apr 2007 Seedling - April 2007 Read the editorial here & download full issue (pdf) Read the editorial here & download full issue (pdf)