Calling in the corporates by Frontline | 11 Jul 2013 corporations The latest issue of Frontline magazine focuses on the push to expand corporate agriculture in India. The latest issue of Frontline magazine focuses on the push to expand corporate agriculture in India.
Bubble bursts on next generation biofuels by Bloomberg | 9 Jul 2013 corporations Investments in next generation biofuels have shrunk from a high of US$7.6 billion in the last quarter of 2007 to US$57 million in the 1st quarter of 2013, leaving future demand to continue being met by the use of food crops. Investments in next generation biofuels have shrunk from a high of US$7.6 billion in the last quarter of 2007 to US$57 million in the 1st quarter of 2013, leaving future demand to continue being met by the use of food crops.
Africa, let us help – just like in 1884 by George Monbiot | 11 Jun 2013 United Kingdom | land grabbing | corporations From the Conference of Berlin to today's G8, 'helping' Africans looks suspiciously like grabbing their resources. An excellent take on the G8 plans to help Africa, by George Monbiot. From the Conference of Berlin to today's G8, 'helping' Africans looks suspiciously like grabbing their resources. An excellent take on the G8 plans to help Africa, by George Monbiot.
Our man in Sudan by Aljazeera | 1 Jun 2013 Sudan | land grabbing | corporations An ex-Wall Street banker jets off to South Sudan to show how investors are rushing to Africa in a modern-day land-grab. A fascinationg Aljazeera video. An ex-Wall Street banker jets off to South Sudan to show how investors are rushing to Africa in a modern-day land-grab. A fascinationg Aljazeera video.
Modernising African agriculture: who benefits? by ACB, AFSA and others | 17 May 2013 corporations | technologies | actions African civil society organisations are up in arms about the new corporate and donor initiatives to 'help' Africa. They have launched an appeal against the plans of the G8, AGRA, and others to drive corporate agriculture into the continent. Read and support their appeal online. (also in French and Portuguese) African civil society organisations are up in arms about the new corporate and donor initiatives to 'help' Africa. They have launched an appeal against the plans of the G8, AGRA, and others to drive corporate agriculture into the continent. Read and support their appeal online. (also in French and Portuguese)
GE trees to fight climate change? by Dr. Rachel Smolker | 9 Apr 2013 United States | corporations | climate crisis | GMOs The realities of climate change have become altogether painfully obvious. Many are working to address this by reducing consumption, and protecting landscapes and biodiversity. ArborGen and other tree biotechnology companies, however, have a different vision. They want to develop so-called “bio-energy” from massive plantations of genetically engineered (GE) trees. The realities of climate change have become altogether painfully obvious. Many are working to address this by reducing consumption, and protecting landscapes and biodiversity. ArborGen and other tree biotechnology companies, however, have a different vision. They want to develop so-called “bio-energy” from massive plantations of genetically engineered (GE) trees.
New seed legislation spells disaster for small farmers in Africa by ACB and others | 3 Apr 2013 Kenya | South Africa | Tanzania | Uganda | Zimbabwe | corporations | seeds & biodiversity | actions Civil society organisations from the SADC region, and around the world have condemned the SADC draft Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (Plant Breeders’ Rights) as spelling disaster for small farmers and food security in the region. These groups, representing millions of farmers in Africa and around the world have submitted their concerns to the SADC Secretariat. They are calling for the rejection of the Protocol and urgent consultations with farmers, farmer movements and civil society before it’s too late. Civil society organisations from the SADC region, and around the world have condemned the SADC draft Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (Plant Breeders’ Rights) as spelling disaster for small farmers and food security in the region. These groups, representing millions of farmers in Africa and around the world have submitted their concerns to the SADC Secretariat. They are calling for the rejection of the Protocol and urgent consultations with farmers, farmer movements and civil society before it’s too late.
Tunis 2013: If we rely on corporate seed, we lose food sovereignty by Via Campesina, GRAIN, ETC Group | 2 Apr 2013 corporations | seeds & biodiversity It has become crucial to defend seeds. In the past 20 or 30 years, what was once seen as normal – peasant farmers growing, selecting, saving and exchanging seeds – has come under attack from corporations seeking to control and commodify the very basis of agriculture. This was the subject of the session at the World Social Forum in Tunis on Peasant Seeds jointly organized on March 28, 2013 by La Vía Campesina, GRAIN and the ETC Group. It has become crucial to defend seeds. In the past 20 or 30 years, what was once seen as normal – peasant farmers growing, selecting, saving and exchanging seeds – has come under attack from corporations seeking to control and commodify the very basis of agriculture. This was the subject of the session at the World Social Forum in Tunis on Peasant Seeds jointly organized on March 28, 2013 by La Vía Campesina, GRAIN and the ETC Group.
Stop the crop! by FOEE, CEO | 19 Mar 2013 EU | corporations | technologies | food sovereignty | actions | GMOs In the last 15 years only two GM crops have been authorized for cultivation in Europe. This was a result of public rejection and successful opposition by the environmental, social and farmers movements. However, we are still faced with around 25 GM crops in the pipeline that are close to getting approved, many of them resistant to (multiple) herbicides, and Bt-crops. Therefore, we are launching a new campaign on Monday 18 March to stop new GMO approvals for cultivation in the EU: Stop the Crop! In the last 15 years only two GM crops have been authorized for cultivation in Europe. This was a result of public rejection and successful opposition by the environmental, social and farmers movements. However, we are still faced with around 25 GM crops in the pipeline that are close to getting approved, many of them resistant to (multiple) herbicides, and Bt-crops. Therefore, we are launching a new campaign on Monday 18 March to stop new GMO approvals for cultivation in the EU: Stop the Crop!
Argentina's bad seeds by Al Jazeera | 18 Mar 2013 Argentina | land grabbing | corporations | seeds & biodiversity The country's soya industry is booming, but what is the impact on Argentinians and their land? Al Jazeera investigates. The country's soya industry is booming, but what is the impact on Argentinians and their land? Al Jazeera investigates.
USA: The meat industry now consumes four-fifths of all antibiotics by Tom Philpott | 28 Feb 2013 United States | corporations | laws & policies | food safety | actions Antibiotic overuse is breeding new and resistant strains of bacteria that infect people. But industrial farms haven't got the message. In 2011 almost 30 million pounds of antibiotics were sold in the US for meat and poulty production. Almost four times as much as those sold to treat sick people! An excellent reflection by Tom Philpott. Antibiotic overuse is breeding new and resistant strains of bacteria that infect people. But industrial farms haven't got the message. In 2011 almost 30 million pounds of antibiotics were sold in the US for meat and poulty production. Almost four times as much as those sold to treat sick people! An excellent reflection by Tom Philpott.
And now.... GM potatoes in Peru? by Associacion ANDES | 1 Feb 2013 Peru | corporations | seeds & biodiversity After the Mexican government shocked the world last December with its plans to allow for the planting of GM maize in the heart of this crops center of diversity, now the same tragedy seems to be going to be allowed in Peru, the centre of patato diversity. Indigenous people raise the alarm. After the Mexican government shocked the world last December with its plans to allow for the planting of GM maize in the heart of this crops center of diversity, now the same tragedy seems to be going to be allowed in Peru, the centre of patato diversity. Indigenous people raise the alarm.
Nestlégate: Court convicts Nestle of "spying" on Swiss activists by ATTAC Switzerland | 30 Jan 2013 Switzerland | corporations A Swiss civil court has convicted NESTLE and the private security contractor SECURITAS AG of spying activities directed at ATTAC Switzerland.. A Swiss civil court has convicted NESTLE and the private security contractor SECURITAS AG of spying activities directed at ATTAC Switzerland..
Watergrabbing..... and waste! by GRAIN | 15 Jan 2013 United Kingdom | corporations | food crisis A new report calculates that up to half of the food produced in the world never makes it to any dinner table, and finds that enormous amounts of water are being squandered in the process. Another report tried to calculate the amount of water to be used by those now grabbing land in poor countries to produce food and fuel for the export market. A new report calculates that up to half of the food produced in the world never makes it to any dinner table, and finds that enormous amounts of water are being squandered in the process. Another report tried to calculate the amount of water to be used by those now grabbing land in poor countries to produce food and fuel for the export market.
Agricultural Growth Corridors: the latest idea for Africa? by EcoNexus, War on Want | 13 Dec 2012 Mozambique | Tanzania | United Kingdom | land grabbing | corporations Agricultural Growth Corridors' increasingly pop up in the promotion literature of donors, corporations and multilateral agencies alike. The latest idea to 'develop' Africa and help it's small farmers, they claim. What's this all about? Two new reports give some background. Agricultural Growth Corridors' increasingly pop up in the promotion literature of donors, corporations and multilateral agencies alike. The latest idea to 'develop' Africa and help it's small farmers, they claim. What's this all about? Two new reports give some background.