Bt cotton in South Africa: the case of the Makhathini farmers by Elfrieda Pschorn-Strauss | 25 May 2005 This article summarises the results of five years of research undertaken by Biowatch South Africa on the socio-economic impact of Bt cotton on small-scale farmers in South Africa. This article summarises the results of five years of research undertaken by Biowatch South Africa on the socio-economic impact of Bt cotton on small-scale farmers in South Africa.
Sustaining Agricultural Biodiversity by ITDG / ETC / GRAIN | 24 May 2005 Food sovereignty and security, livelihoods, landscapes and environmental integrity are underpinned by agricultural biodiversity and its component genetic resources for food and agriculture. These have been developed by indigenous peoples and women and men farmers, forest dwellers, livestock keepers and fisherfolk over the past 12,000 years through the free exchange of genetic resources across the world. Some examples of successful achievements of local communities over the past five years are highlighted in this paper: maintaining crop diversity; conserving domestic animal diversity; restoring marine diversity; developing agro-ecotourism; facilitating farmers' voices in the genetic engineering debate; challenging perverse patents; protecting Farmers' Rights; and monitoring Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) encroachment.Since the advent of industrial agriculture and the increasing globalisation of markets, tastes and cultures, much of this wealth of agricultural biodiversity is being lost both on-farm and in genebanks and increasingly the integrity of these resources is being compromised by genetically modified organisms, internatinal treatises and national policies adopted by country governments. This paper concludes with a list of priorities from CSOs and Farmers' Organisations for changes in a range of activities, policies and instruments at local, national and international levels. These changes would effectively protect the genetic integrity of, and open access to, the agricultural biodiversity needed to sustain livelihoods, landscapes and life on earth. Food sovereignty and security, livelihoods, landscapes and environmental integrity are underpinned by agricultural biodiversity and its component genetic resources for food and agriculture. These have been developed by indigenous peoples and women and men farmers, forest dwellers, livestock keepers and fisherfolk over the past 12,000 years through the free exchange of genetic resources across the world. Some examples of successful achievements of local communities over the past five years are highlighted in this paper: maintaining crop diversity; conserving domestic animal diversity; restoring marine diversity; developing agro-ecotourism; facilitating farmers' voices in the genetic engineering debate; challenging perverse patents; protecting Farmers' Rights; and monitoring Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) encroachment.Since the advent of industrial agriculture and the increasing globalisation of markets, tastes and cultures, much of this wealth of agricultural biodiversity is being lost both on-farm and in genebanks and increasingly the integrity of these resources is being compromised by genetically modified organisms, internatinal treatises and national policies adopted by country governments. This paper concludes with a list of priorities from CSOs and Farmers' Organisations for changes in a range of activities, policies and instruments at local, national and international levels. These changes would effectively protect the genetic integrity of, and open access to, the agricultural biodiversity needed to sustain livelihoods, landscapes and life on earth.
Article 27.3(b), relationship between the TRIPS agreement and the CBD and protection of traditional knowledge and folklore by Peru | 19 May 2005
Towards a Community Supported Agriculture by The Just Food Project / Friends of the Earth Brisbane | 19 May 2005 A booklet that provides broad understanding of why we need to change the way we produce and distribute food, as well as the nuts and bolts of the Community Supported Agriculture vision. A booklet that provides broad understanding of why we need to change the way we produce and distribute food, as well as the nuts and bolts of the Community Supported Agriculture vision.
The Canadian Farm Family at Work: Exploring Gender and Generation by Center for Rural Studies and Enrichment, National Farmers Union | 18 May 2005 This is the result of a study (2002) that tries to assess the changes that had taken place over the past 20 years in the work of Canadian farm women in the context of the farm family, encompassing the contributions of women, men and youth. The study found that Canadian farm women continue to be heavily involved on the farm and over the past 20 years, their contributions have increased in almost all areas of the farm operation. Transferring the farm to the next generation is very important to Canadian farm families. Yet there are families who are reticent to transfer the farm to their children because of the stress and uncertainty within agriculture. This is the result of a study (2002) that tries to assess the changes that had taken place over the past 20 years in the work of Canadian farm women in the context of the farm family, encompassing the contributions of women, men and youth. The study found that Canadian farm women continue to be heavily involved on the farm and over the past 20 years, their contributions have increased in almost all areas of the farm operation. Transferring the farm to the next generation is very important to Canadian farm families. Yet there are families who are reticent to transfer the farm to their children because of the stress and uncertainty within agriculture.
Farmers' Experiences with Agricultural Research - a workshop report by BASA-SANFEC | 18 May 2005 A workshop report of Farmers Experiences with Agricultural Research - an international farmers' workshop held in Thailand and Cambodia on 14-20 December 2004 A workshop report of Farmers Experiences with Agricultural Research - an international farmers' workshop held in Thailand and Cambodia on 14-20 December 2004
Fruits of Diversity by Deccan Development Society | 18 May 2005 a brochure about the need to protect traditional knowledge - why, how, by whom? a brochure about the need to protect traditional knowledge - why, how, by whom?
Uncultivated Food and the Poor by Deccan Development Society | 18 May 2005 a brief document outlining the importance and usefulness of uncultivated foods for the poor a brief document outlining the importance and usefulness of uncultivated foods for the poor
Public interest petition for a moratorium on the release of GMOs into the Indian environment and the need for biosafety testing by Co-petitioners: Aruna Rodrigues, Devinder Sharma, PV Satheesh, Rajeev Baruah | 14 May 2005
New lies, old truths by | 3 May 2005 Resolution from Souther Encounters - an international consultation on Bt cotton, 14-15 April 2005, Hyderabad, India Resolution from Souther Encounters - an international consultation on Bt cotton, 14-15 April 2005, Hyderabad, India
Bt Cotton in Andhra Pradesh - a three year assessment by Deccan Development Society, Andhra Pradesh Coalition in Defence of Diversity, Permaculture Association of India | 3 May 2005
The Road from TRIPS-Minus, to TRIPS, to TRIPS-Plus: Implications of IPRs for the Arab World by Mohammed El-Said | 1 May 2005 This article sheds light on the evolution of free trade agreements (FTAs) and the IPR protection incorporated within such agreements. The emphasis is on the latest free trade and investment agreements concluded between the United States and the European Union (EU) with the Arab world and their "TRIPS-Plus" nature. Originally published in the Journal of World Intellectual Property, Vol 8, No 1, January 2005. This article sheds light on the evolution of free trade agreements (FTAs) and the IPR protection incorporated within such agreements. The emphasis is on the latest free trade and investment agreements concluded between the United States and the European Union (EU) with the Arab world and their "TRIPS-Plus" nature. Originally published in the Journal of World Intellectual Property, Vol 8, No 1, January 2005.
April 2005 by GRAIN | 30 Apr 2005 Seedling - April 2005 A bumper issue of a Seedling with a diverse number of articles from an editorial on Food Sovereignty, a discussion of the CBD ABS, a highly critical look at environmental services to articles on USAID and Bt cotton in Africa. A bumper issue of a Seedling with a diverse number of articles from an editorial on Food Sovereignty, a discussion of the CBD ABS, a highly critical look at environmental services to articles on USAID and Bt cotton in Africa.
Food Sovereignty: turning the global food system upside down by GRAIN | 29 Apr 2005 Seedling - April 2005 Food sovereignty is a solid alternative to the current mainstream thinking on food production. The struggle for food sovereignty incorporates such wide ranging issues as land reform, territo-rial control, local markets, biodiversity, autonomy, cooperation, debt, health, and many other issues that are of central importance to be able to produce food locally. Food sovereignty also brings together peasants and farmers from the North and South and allows different move-ments to come together in their struggles. Food sovereignty is a solid alternative to the current mainstream thinking on food production. The struggle for food sovereignty incorporates such wide ranging issues as land reform, territo-rial control, local markets, biodiversity, autonomy, cooperation, debt, health, and many other issues that are of central importance to be able to produce food locally. Food sovereignty also brings together peasants and farmers from the North and South and allows different move-ments to come together in their struggles.
Re-situating the benefits from biodiversity by GRAIN | 28 Apr 2005 Seedling - April 2005 In 2004, the members of the Convention on Biological Diversity started negotiating an "international regime on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing". Many developing country governments are enthusiastic about this process. They speak about it as something which will put an end to biopiracy and finally realise the "fair and equitable sharing of benefits" derived from biodiversity, long promised by the CBD. In reality, the regime will have very little to do with benefit-sharing at all, much less with fair and equitable sharing. The focus will remain where it has always been in the CBD's discussions: on access to genes for research and commercialisation, and on setting a price for such access. The only new element likely to materialise in the regime is some form of international enforcement for national access legislations, possibly a system of certificates to prove that a genetic resource has been lawfully acquired. In 2004, the members of the Convention on Biological Diversity started negotiating an "international regime on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing". Many developing country governments are enthusiastic about this process. They speak about it as something which will put an end to biopiracy and finally realise the "fair and equitable sharing of benefits" derived from biodiversity, long promised by the CBD. In reality, the regime will have very little to do with benefit-sharing at all, much less with fair and equitable sharing. The focus will remain where it has always been in the CBD's discussions: on access to genes for research and commercialisation, and on setting a price for such access. The only new element likely to materialise in the regime is some form of international enforcement for national access legislations, possibly a system of certificates to prove that a genetic resource has been lawfully acquired.