Cargill's profits quadruple as world food crisis deepens by GRAIN | 11 Oct 2012 corporations The world's largest grain trader made US$1 billion in profits from June to August, as people across the world struggled with rising prices for grains. The world's largest grain trader made US$1 billion in profits from June to August, as people across the world struggled with rising prices for grains.
Cereal secrets: The world's largest grain traders and global agriculture by Oxfam | 27 Aug 2012 corporations Oxfam recently put out a new report on the world's largest grain traders, the so-called ABCD firms, that provides a detailed overview of their activies, including the speculation that these companies are increasinlgy involved in. Oxfam recently put out a new report on the world's largest grain traders, the so-called ABCD firms, that provides a detailed overview of their activies, including the speculation that these companies are increasinlgy involved in.
Chinese government hires CP Group for US$4 billion project to set up factory farms in China by GRAIN | 23 Aug 2012 China | Thailand | corporations The Nation is reporting that Chia Tai, the Chinese arm of Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group, will manage a US$4 billion project to set up 13 industrial pig, poultry and shrimp farming projects in several Chinese provinces. The Nation is reporting that Chia Tai, the Chinese arm of Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group, will manage a US$4 billion project to set up 13 industrial pig, poultry and shrimp farming projects in several Chinese provinces.
When CP came to the village: An interview with Wirat Phromson of Thailand's Northern Peasants' Federation by GRAIN | 30 Jul 2012 Thailand | corporations Wirat Phromson, a farmer from Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, talks about his village's experience with contract farming for Thailand's biggest meat company, Charoen Pokphand. Wirat Phromson, a farmer from Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, talks about his village's experience with contract farming for Thailand's biggest meat company, Charoen Pokphand.
Geopolitics of drought by Ian Masters | 24 Jul 2012 corporations | food crisis | food sovereignty Ian Masters interviews Eric Holt-Giménez about the current drought affecting numerous grain-producing countries and its potential impacts Ian Masters interviews Eric Holt-Giménez about the current drought affecting numerous grain-producing countries and its potential impacts
The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse - G8 corporate power by Glenn Ashton | 28 Jun 2012 corporations A Faustian bargain was made at the June 2012 G8 meeting by US President Obama. Instead of delivering on commitments, he changed tack and roped in a $3 billion "pledge of corporate assistance" for African agriculture. A Faustian bargain was made at the June 2012 G8 meeting by US President Obama. Instead of delivering on commitments, he changed tack and roped in a $3 billion "pledge of corporate assistance" for African agriculture.
Land grabbing by pension funds and other financial institutions must be stopped by GRAIN | 26 Jun 2012 land grabbing | corporations | food sovereignty A statement signed by over 60 environmental, development and farming groups calls for pension funds and other financial institutions to stop land grabbing. A statement signed by over 60 environmental, development and farming groups calls for pension funds and other financial institutions to stop land grabbing.
Carbon trading and REDD+ in Mozambique: farmers ‘grow’ carbon for the benefit of polluters by Via Campesina Africa | 20 Jun 2012 Mozambique | corporations | climate crisis | food sovereignty With the Rio+20 conference about to open, we would like to share with you a real life story from Mozambique on the problems that rural communities get themselves into with carbon trading projects. When farmers start growing carbon instead of food. Written and documented by Via Campsina Africa. With the Rio+20 conference about to open, we would like to share with you a real life story from Mozambique on the problems that rural communities get themselves into with carbon trading projects. When farmers start growing carbon instead of food. Written and documented by Via Campsina Africa.
Seeds of freedom - the movie by Gaia, ABN | 13 Jun 2012 Ethiopia | India | United States | corporations | seeds & biodiversity Seeds of Freedom charts the story of seed from its roots at the heart of traditional, diversity rich farming systems across the world, to being transformed into a powerful commodity, used to monopolise the global food system. Worth to see! Seeds of Freedom charts the story of seed from its roots at the heart of traditional, diversity rich farming systems across the world, to being transformed into a powerful commodity, used to monopolise the global food system. Worth to see!
The people of the world confront the advance of capitalism: Rio +20 and beyond by Via Campesina | 6 Jun 2012 corporations | food crisis | climate crisis | food sovereignty Via Campesina's take on the 'Green Economy' and other business plans being prepared for the Rio+20 Summit. A good summary. Via Campesina's take on the 'Green Economy' and other business plans being prepared for the Rio+20 Summit. A good summary.
Nestlé becomes latest foreign corporation building mega dairy farms in China by GRAIN | 23 May 2012 China | corporations The Swiss multinational corporation has signed an agreement with a local government in north China's Inner Mongolia region to build a 2,000 cow dairy farm in the area. Meanwhile New Zealand's Fonterra, a major supplier of powdered milk to Nestlé, says it will supply 1 billion litres of milk per year from its own farms in China by 2012. The Swiss multinational corporation has signed an agreement with a local government in north China's Inner Mongolia region to build a 2,000 cow dairy farm in the area. Meanwhile New Zealand's Fonterra, a major supplier of powdered milk to Nestlé, says it will supply 1 billion litres of milk per year from its own farms in China by 2012.
Letter from African Civil Society Critical of Foreign Investment in African Agriculture at G8 Summit by Mamadou Cissokho | 23 May 2012 corporations | food crisis | food sovereignty In the lead up to the May 2012 G8 summit in the USA, a meeting was organised to give agribusiness a platform to explain their views and initiatives to acieve food security in Africa. The G8 also dealt with the issue. Here is what the African farmers have to say about it. In the lead up to the May 2012 G8 summit in the USA, a meeting was organised to give agribusiness a platform to explain their views and initiatives to acieve food security in Africa. The G8 also dealt with the issue. Here is what the African farmers have to say about it.
TetraPak goes "Deeper in the Pyramid" by GRAIN | 15 May 2012 Sweden | corporations TetraPak says the world's 2.7 billion low-income people are the next big growth opportunity for the dairy industry. Those people are currently served fresh milk and dairy products by small farmers and local markets. TetraPak wants them buying packaged "alternatives to whole milk" produced by corporations. TetraPak says the world's 2.7 billion low-income people are the next big growth opportunity for the dairy industry. Those people are currently served fresh milk and dairy products by small farmers and local markets. TetraPak wants them buying packaged "alternatives to whole milk" produced by corporations.
With a corporate culture built on bribery, Walmart was running with plenty to hide by Wade Rathke, Acorn International | 25 Apr 2012 India | Mexico | corporations A recent New York Times article exposed how Walmart paid at least $24 million in bribes to facilitate its expansion in Mexico. Wade Rathke of Acorn International wonders whether the same system has been active in Walmart's work to expand and find a foothold in India where their efforts and others to modify the restrictions on foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail have been huge political issues in recent months, bringing government to a standstill at some points. A recent New York Times article exposed how Walmart paid at least $24 million in bribes to facilitate its expansion in Mexico. Wade Rathke of Acorn International wonders whether the same system has been active in Walmart's work to expand and find a foothold in India where their efforts and others to modify the restrictions on foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail have been huge political issues in recent months, bringing government to a standstill at some points.
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.