Livestock out of balance: From asset to liability in the course of the Livestock Revolution by League for Pastoral Peoples | 16 Apr 2012 corporations Study investigates the impact of the Livestock Revolution on farmers. It finds that livestock has turned in many cases from an asset into a liability, since farmers and livestock keepers, in order to remain competitive, are drawn into a debt trap, because of high initial investments on one side, and because they are squeezed between escalating input prices and the consolidated power of the food processors and supermarket chains on the other. Study investigates the impact of the Livestock Revolution on farmers. It finds that livestock has turned in many cases from an asset into a liability, since farmers and livestock keepers, in order to remain competitive, are drawn into a debt trap, because of high initial investments on one side, and because they are squeezed between escalating input prices and the consolidated power of the food processors and supermarket chains on the other.
‘Obesogenic’ food systems must be reformed by Olivier De Schutter | 12 Mar 2012 food crisis “The West is exporting diabetes and heart disease to developing countries, along with the processed foods that line the shelves of global supermarkets,” warns Olivier De Schutter, the UN's Special Rapporteur on the right to food. He calls for an urgent response to the public health disaster of poor nutrition. “The West is exporting diabetes and heart disease to developing countries, along with the processed foods that line the shelves of global supermarkets,” warns Olivier De Schutter, the UN's Special Rapporteur on the right to food. He calls for an urgent response to the public health disaster of poor nutrition.
GRAIN releases data set with over 400 global land grabs by GRAIN | 23 Feb 2012 Media releases | Land GRAIN launches a new data set documenting 416 recent, large-scale land grabs by foreign investors for the production of food crops. The collection of cases cover nearly 35 million hectares of land in 66 countries, providing a stark snapshot of how agribusiness is expanding across the globe and how it is taking food production out of the hands of farmers and local communities. GRAIN launches a new data set documenting 416 recent, large-scale land grabs by foreign investors for the production of food crops. The collection of cases cover nearly 35 million hectares of land in 66 countries, providing a stark snapshot of how agribusiness is expanding across the globe and how it is taking food production out of the hands of farmers and local communities.
Land grabs leave Africa thirsty by Oakland and Polaris Institutes | 15 Feb 2012 Ethiopia | Mali | Tanzania | land grabbing An excellent new report from Polaris and the Oakland institute on the impact of landgrabbing on water use in Africa. 'If all the 40 million hectares of land that were acquired on the continent in 2009 come under cultivation, a staggering volume of water would be required for irrigation (…) approximately twice the volume of water that was used for agriculture in all of Africa in 2005'. An excellent new report from Polaris and the Oakland institute on the impact of landgrabbing on water use in Africa. 'If all the 40 million hectares of land that were acquired on the continent in 2009 come under cultivation, a staggering volume of water would be required for irrigation (…) approximately twice the volume of water that was used for agriculture in all of Africa in 2005'.
Can India turn the tide on the supermarket tsunami? by GRAIN | 9 Feb 2012 India is one of several countries now being hit by what is referred to as a third wave of corporate retail expansion in the global South. Widespread protests led by India's small shopkeepers and retail workers have put a government decision to open up the retail sector to foreign control on hold for now, but corporations like Walmart and Carrefour will not easily give up on such opportunites for growth. The impacts of big retail's growing control over food markets in the South are particularly harsh for peasants, pastoralists and fisherfolk because they are completely shutout of its supply chains. India is one of several countries now being hit by what is referred to as a third wave of corporate retail expansion in the global South. Widespread protests led by India's small shopkeepers and retail workers have put a government decision to open up the retail sector to foreign control on hold for now, but corporations like Walmart and Carrefour will not easily give up on such opportunites for growth. The impacts of big retail's growing control over food markets in the South are particularly harsh for peasants, pastoralists and fisherfolk because they are completely shutout of its supply chains.
"Corporate person" Cargill, Inc. under arrest by Occupy Cargill | 23 Jan 2012 United States | corporations A colorful crowd of 40 Occupy activists, food justice advocates, farmers, and anti-corporate-personhood protestors braved below freezing temperatures to voice their grievances and stage a mock citizen’s arrest of Cargill Inc. in downtown Minneapolis, USA. A colorful crowd of 40 Occupy activists, food justice advocates, farmers, and anti-corporate-personhood protestors braved below freezing temperatures to voice their grievances and stage a mock citizen’s arrest of Cargill Inc. in downtown Minneapolis, USA.
Campesino land struggles in Honduras by Heather Gies | 23 Jan 2012 Honduras | land grabbing | food sovereignty | actions The Aguán River Valley in the department of Colón, Honduras, is a site of both an ongoing conflict and a powerful social movement. The situation of the local farmers was further exacerbated by the 2009 military coup in Honduras. But their communities are also unfailingly resilient. A story of repression and resistance. The Aguán River Valley in the department of Colón, Honduras, is a site of both an ongoing conflict and a powerful social movement. The situation of the local farmers was further exacerbated by the 2009 military coup in Honduras. But their communities are also unfailingly resilient. A story of repression and resistance.
Farewell, Erna by GRAIN | 10 Jan 2012 seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Dr. Erna Bennett on 3 January 2011 at her home in Scotland. Erna was a world-renown geneticist, and a tireless fighter against the corporate take over of peasants' seeds. We would like to share with you an article that she wrote for us 10 years ago. It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Dr. Erna Bennett on 3 January 2011 at her home in Scotland. Erna was a world-renown geneticist, and a tireless fighter against the corporate take over of peasants' seeds. We would like to share with you an article that she wrote for us 10 years ago.
STOP Monsanto in Nepal by STOP Monsanto in Nepal | 10 Jan 2012 Nepal | seeds & biodiversity | actions On September 13th the US embassy announced USAID, Monsanto and the Government of Nepal were forming a partnership to promote hybrid maize in Nepal. A campaign has been launched to stop the introduction of Monsanto's hybrid maize in Nepal and promote local seeds. On September 13th the US embassy announced USAID, Monsanto and the Government of Nepal were forming a partnership to promote hybrid maize in Nepal. A campaign has been launched to stop the introduction of Monsanto's hybrid maize in Nepal and promote local seeds.
Horn of Africa crisis: Drought zone by Al Jazeera | 29 Dec 2011 Kenya | food crisis | climate crisis Excellent video programme investigates how climate change and commodity speculation are fueling hunger and conflict in Kenya, and explores what is and what is not being done in response. Excellent video programme investigates how climate change and commodity speculation are fueling hunger and conflict in Kenya, and explores what is and what is not being done in response.
Indigenous Peoples call for REDD moratorium by Stephen Leahy | 16 Dec 2011 climate crisis A new coalition of indigenous peoples and local communities called for a moratorium on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) programs, a key part of the negotiations for a new international climate treaty that took place over the last two weeks in South Africa. A new coalition of indigenous peoples and local communities called for a moratorium on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) programs, a key part of the negotiations for a new international climate treaty that took place over the last two weeks in South Africa.
A charade agreement that ignores climate chaos by Giuseppe De Marzo | 15 Dec 2011 climate crisis After 2 weeks and 40 extra hours of negotiation, the agreement on climate change worked out in Durban only establishes that a binding instrument will be developed by 2015 and implemented in 2020. In this powerful reflection on the outcome of the Durban climate summit, Giuseppe De Marzo of A Sud says that the COP17 in Durban will be remembered as a failure for all humanity and a good business for the ones responsible for increasing the planet's fever. After 2 weeks and 40 extra hours of negotiation, the agreement on climate change worked out in Durban only establishes that a binding instrument will be developed by 2015 and implemented in 2020. In this powerful reflection on the outcome of the Durban climate summit, Giuseppe De Marzo of A Sud says that the COP17 in Durban will be remembered as a failure for all humanity and a good business for the ones responsible for increasing the planet's fever.
New data sets on land grabbing by GRAIN | 14 Dec 2011 land grabbing In the past few months, GRAIN staff have been participating in a range of meetings and workshops in different parts of the world on land grabbing. Most of these events have been organised by small farmers' organisations, others by civil society groups. GRAIN's role has often been to provide data and analysis to feed into the debates. As a support to these initiatives, staff have put together a number of new data sets that we would now like to share publicly for everyone's use. In the past few months, GRAIN staff have been participating in a range of meetings and workshops in different parts of the world on land grabbing. Most of these events have been organised by small farmers' organisations, others by civil society groups. GRAIN's role has often been to provide data and analysis to feed into the debates. As a support to these initiatives, staff have put together a number of new data sets that we would now like to share publicly for everyone's use.
The great milk robbery by GRAIN | 7 Dec 2011 A new report by GRAIN documents the importance of milk to the livelihoods and health of the poor in many countries of the global South. Most dairy markets are supplied by small-scale vendors who collect milk from small farmers and pastoralists. But both are under threat from dairy corporations, like Nestlé, and other players, like PepsiCo and Cargill, that are trying to take over the dairy sectors in these countries, from the farms to the markets. A battle over dairy is under way that will profoundly shape the direction of the global food system and people's lives. A new report by GRAIN documents the importance of milk to the livelihoods and health of the poor in many countries of the global South. Most dairy markets are supplied by small-scale vendors who collect milk from small farmers and pastoralists. But both are under threat from dairy corporations, like Nestlé, and other players, like PepsiCo and Cargill, that are trying to take over the dairy sectors in these countries, from the farms to the markets. A battle over dairy is under way that will profoundly shape the direction of the global food system and people's lives.
GRAIN calls for end to land grabbing at Swedish Parliament by GRAIN | 6 Dec 2011 On 5 December 2011, GRAIN received the 2011 Right Livelihood Award, often referred to as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’, at the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm. GRAIN was awarded “for its worldwide work to protect the livelihoods and rights of farming communities and to expose the massive purchases of farmland in developing countries by foreign financial interests”. GRAIN seized on the opportunity to demand an immediate end to land grabbing and a restitution of lands to local communities. The following speech was delivered to the Swedish Parliament by GRAIN coordinator Henk Hobbelink during the Awards Ceremony. On 5 December 2011, GRAIN received the 2011 Right Livelihood Award, often referred to as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’, at the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm. GRAIN was awarded “for its worldwide work to protect the livelihoods and rights of farming communities and to expose the massive purchases of farmland in developing countries by foreign financial interests”. GRAIN seized on the opportunity to demand an immediate end to land grabbing and a restitution of lands to local communities. The following speech was delivered to the Swedish Parliament by GRAIN coordinator Henk Hobbelink during the Awards Ceremony.