Bilateral agreements and a TRIPS-plus world: the Chile-USA Free Trade Agreement by Pedro Roffe | 26 Oct 2004
Speech on GMOs & Food Safety in the context of Thailand society by Witoon Lianchamroon,Director of BioThai, Thailand | 25 Oct 2004 Presented to the Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators, organised by the WHO and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, Oct. 12 - 14 2004 at UN - Bangkok Presented to the Global Forum of Food Safety Regulators, organised by the WHO and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, Oct. 12 - 14 2004 at UN - Bangkok
The black sheep of Rajasthan by Ellen Geerlings | 24 Oct 2004 Seedling - October 2004 The Raika represent one of the largest groups of livestock herders in India. Through their innovativeness, flexibility and specialised knowledge, they have managed to thrive in a harsh, semi-desert environment. They have developed hardy livestock breeds and a complex social web that revolves around their animals. But external factors are pushing the Raika to the limits of their resourcefulness and threatening their livelihood with extinction. The Raika represent one of the largest groups of livestock herders in India. Through their innovativeness, flexibility and specialised knowledge, they have managed to thrive in a harsh, semi-desert environment. They have developed hardy livestock breeds and a complex social web that revolves around their animals. But external factors are pushing the Raika to the limits of their resourcefulness and threatening their livelihood with extinction.
Science meets its soul: the promise of participative breeding by Réseau Semences Paysanne | 22 Oct 2004 Seedling - October 2004 The farmer and researcher may be lost soul mates, but reuniting them may not be an easy task. Having been compartmentalised and isolated for decades, they now speak different languages and have contrasting worldviews. But there is an urgent need to bring the farmer back into the research arena, particularly in the arena of public research, which is running the risk of subjugating itself completely to industry's agenda. Challenging though this will be, the rewards will be many for consumers, the environment and biodiversity. The farmer and researcher may be lost soul mates, but reuniting them may not be an easy task. Having been compartmentalised and isolated for decades, they now speak different languages and have contrasting worldviews. But there is an urgent need to bring the farmer back into the research arena, particularly in the arena of public research, which is running the risk of subjugating itself completely to industry's agenda. Challenging though this will be, the rewards will be many for consumers, the environment and biodiversity.
Farmers protest in Warangal after Bt cotton fails again by Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and Hindu Business Line | 22 Oct 2004
Interview with Ibrahim Ouédraogo by GRAIN | 20 Oct 2004 Seedling - October 2004 Ibrahim Ouédraogo is Secretary-General of INADES-Formation, which brings together the African Institute for Economic and Social Development and the African Training Centre. It is a pan-African association of national organisations with commonly held objectives, strategies and financial resources working primarily with rural communities in ten countries of West, Central and East Africa. Ibrahim Ouédraogo is Secretary-General of INADES-Formation, which brings together the African Institute for Economic and Social Development and the African Training Centre. It is a pan-African association of national organisations with commonly held objectives, strategies and financial resources working primarily with rural communities in ten countries of West, Central and East Africa.
Mauritius adopting UPOV as opposed to African Union Model Law by GRAIN | 20 Oct 2004 BIO-IPR (1997-2009)
No GMOs @ FAO by European Social Forum | 19 Oct 2004 A message from the European Social Forum held in London which was handed to the FAO on 19 October 2004. Also available from http://www.ukabc.org/wfd-esf2004.htm#c21 A message from the European Social Forum held in London which was handed to the FAO on 19 October 2004. Also available from http://www.ukabc.org/wfd-esf2004.htm#c21
Iraq's new patent law: a declaration of war against farmers by Focus on the Global South and GRAIN | 15 Oct 2004 For generations, small farmers in Iraq operated in an essentially unregulated, informal seed supply system. Farm-saved seed and the free innovation with and exchange of planting materials among farming communities has long been the basis of agricultural practice. This is now history. The CPA has made it illegal for Iraqi farmers to re-use seeds harvested from new varieties registered under the law. Iraqis may continue to use and save from their traditional seed stocks or what’s left of them after the years of war and drought, but that is the not the agenda for reconstruction embedded in the ruling. The purpose of the law is to facilitate the establishment of a new seed market in Iraq, where transnational corporations can sell their seeds – genetically modified or not, which farmers would have to purchase afresh every single cropping season. For generations, small farmers in Iraq operated in an essentially unregulated, informal seed supply system. Farm-saved seed and the free innovation with and exchange of planting materials among farming communities has long been the basis of agricultural practice. This is now history. The CPA has made it illegal for Iraqi farmers to re-use seeds harvested from new varieties registered under the law. Iraqis may continue to use and save from their traditional seed stocks or what’s left of them after the years of war and drought, but that is the not the agenda for reconstruction embedded in the ruling. The purpose of the law is to facilitate the establishment of a new seed market in Iraq, where transnational corporations can sell their seeds – genetically modified or not, which farmers would have to purchase afresh every single cropping season.
Iraq's new patent law: A declaration of war against farmers by GRAIN | 15 Oct 2004 BIO-IPR (1997-2009)
Monsanto's royalty grab in Argentina by GRAIN | 8 Oct 2004 Or: How corporations get their way with a little help from their friends in government A dramatic comedy in three acts (with more to come) Behind many big promises of "technology transfer" and "feeding the world" lies a brutal truth: biotechnology corporations like Monsanto only care about profits. They are not offering genetically modified (GM) seeds to the South out of charity. They want to take over seed markets and squeeze farmers for as much as they can get - which, even in poor countries, can be a lot. The formula seems to be this: focus on the major cash crops (cotton, soybeans, maize, etc), find an entry point, contaminate the seed supply and then step in to take control. Argentina, the first country outside of North America to start planting GM crops, is a case in point. But the sam e pattern is being reproduced around the world, as with GM cotton in India and West Africa . The story of what has happened in Argentina should serve as a stark warning of what occurs when GM agriculture takes root. Or: How corporations get their way with a little help from their friends in government A dramatic comedy in three acts (with more to come) Behind many big promises of "technology transfer" and "feeding the world" lies a brutal truth: biotechnology corporations like Monsanto only care about profits. They are not offering genetically modified (GM) seeds to the South out of charity. They want to take over seed markets and squeeze farmers for as much as they can get - which, even in poor countries, can be a lot. The formula seems to be this: focus on the major cash crops (cotton, soybeans, maize, etc), find an entry point, contaminate the seed supply and then step in to take control. Argentina, the first country outside of North America to start planting GM crops, is a case in point. But the sam e pattern is being reproduced around the world, as with GM cotton in India and West Africa . The story of what has happened in Argentina should serve as a stark warning of what occurs when GM agriculture takes root.
Paper presented at Kheti Virasat's meeting on Bt.Cotton at Bhatinda on 8-9 Feb.2003 by Bharat Krishak Samaj (Farmers Forum India) | 6 Oct 2004
Official country positions and proposals on TRIPS Article 27.3(b) by GRAIN | 6 Oct 2004 A summary table of official WTO member positions on TRIPS Art. 27.3(b), updated October 2004 A summary table of official WTO member positions on TRIPS Art. 27.3(b), updated October 2004