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Seed security for Africa's farmers-image
Seed security for Africa's farmers-image

Seed security for Africa's farmers

by Fulvio Grandin | 1 Oct 2003 Seedling - October 2003

The World Food Summit of June 2002 was a catalytic event the Africa Biodiversity Network (ABN). Our frustrations with government and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's support for the genetic manipulation of agriculture inspired the ABN to get organised to represent and support sustainable practices for food security. ABNs position was clear: seed and food security are inseparable for small-scale farmers throughout Africa, as the informal agricultural sector is largely dependant on an informal seed sector for its genetic resources.

The World Food Summit of June 2002 was a catalytic event the Africa Biodiversity Network (ABN). Our frustrations with government and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's support for the genetic manipulation of agriculture inspired the ABN to get organised to represent and support sustainable practices for food security. ABNs position was clear: seed and food security are inseparable for small-scale farmers throughout Africa, as the informal agricultural sector is largely dependant on an informal seed sector for its genetic resources.

Seeds of a new misery-image
Seeds of a new misery-image

Seeds of a new misery

by Roger Gbegnonvi | 1 Oct 2003 Seedling - October 2003

As soon as he was out of prison for his crimes' of uprooting GM crops, the Frenchman José Bové went to Larzac. There he advocated civil disobedience to French farmers, in the face of continuing imposition of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the fields of agricultural globalisation. For José Bové and friends to sound the alarm in this way throughout the world, it means that the situation is serious. Do Africans who have been promised happiness at last through the use of GMOs know their fate?

As soon as he was out of prison for his crimes' of uprooting GM crops, the Frenchman José Bové went to Larzac. There he advocated civil disobedience to French farmers, in the face of continuing imposition of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the fields of agricultural globalisation. For José Bové and friends to sound the alarm in this way throughout the world, it means that the situation is serious. Do Africans who have been promised happiness at last through the use of GMOs know their fate?

One global patent system? WIPO's Substantive Patent Law Treaty-image
One global patent system? WIPO's Substantive Patent Law Treaty-image

One global patent system? WIPO's Substantive Patent Law Treaty

by GRAIN | 4 Aug 2003

For three years, a new international patent treaty has been under negotiation at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva. This Substantive Patent Law Treaty (SPLT) would remove most of the remaining national flexibility in patent systems and pave the way for a future world patent granted directly by WIPO. This is an appealing prospect for transnational corporations and large powers like the US and the EU, who see patents as as the primary means to control a globalised economy. But a world patent system is bad news for developing countries and their citizens, who would lose even the limited freedom left by the WTO's TRIPS Agreement to adjust patent systems to national development goals. However, it is not too late for the developing world to say no thanks and stop the negotiating process.

For three years, a new international patent treaty has been under negotiation at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva. This Substantive Patent Law Treaty (SPLT) would remove most of the remaining national flexibility in patent systems and pave the way for a future world patent granted directly by WIPO. This is an appealing prospect for transnational corporations and large powers like the US and the EU, who see patents as as the primary means to control a globalised economy. But a world patent system is bad news for developing countries and their citizens, who would lose even the limited freedom left by the WTO's TRIPS Agreement to adjust patent systems to national development goals. However, it is not too late for the developing world to say no thanks and stop the negotiating process.