Ben Ramos by Ben Ramos | 15 Oct 2007 Seedling - October 2007 Ben Ramos is a board member of MASIPAG (Farmer-Scientist Partnership for Development), a farmer-led network of people's organizations, non-governmental organizations and scientists working towards the sustainable use and management of biodiversity through farmers' control of genetic and biological resources, agricultural production and associated knowledge. It is based in the Philippines. Ben Ramos is a board member of MASIPAG (Farmer-Scientist Partnership for Development), a farmer-led network of people's organizations, non-governmental organizations and scientists working towards the sustainable use and management of biodiversity through farmers' control of genetic and biological resources, agricultural production and associated knowledge. It is based in the Philippines.
Interview with Darrin Qualman by Darrin Qualman | 14 Oct 2007 Seedling - October 2007 Darrin Qualman is director of research for Canada’s National Farmers Union, where he has worked for 12 years. Before that, he farmed near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Darrin is the author of several reports, including The Farm Crisis, Bigger Farms, and the Myths of Competition and Efficiency and, with Nettie Wiebe, The Structural Adjustment of Canadian Agriculture. Darrin Qualman is director of research for Canada’s National Farmers Union, where he has worked for 12 years. Before that, he farmed near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Darrin is the author of several reports, including The Farm Crisis, Bigger Farms, and the Myths of Competition and Efficiency and, with Nettie Wiebe, The Structural Adjustment of Canadian Agriculture.
Killing fields the global push for hybrid rice continues by GRAIN | 12 Oct 2007 Seedling - October 2007 The seed industry will do whatever it takes to stop farmers saving seeds. The only way it can make big money from seeds is to force farmers to buy from seed companies every year. With rice, one of the world’s most important crops, it is no wonder that there is a relentless push for a hybrid variety that is essentially sterile. Suicide seeds, so to speak. Of course, the seed industry wants people to believe that there are other reasons behind the push for hybrid rice. They talk of higher yields and big profits for farmers. But if you look at the situation in the fields, none of that turns out to be true. The seed industry will do whatever it takes to stop farmers saving seeds. The only way it can make big money from seeds is to force farmers to buy from seed companies every year. With rice, one of the world’s most important crops, it is no wonder that there is a relentless push for a hybrid variety that is essentially sterile. Suicide seeds, so to speak. Of course, the seed industry wants people to believe that there are other reasons behind the push for hybrid rice. They talk of higher yields and big profits for farmers. But if you look at the situation in the fields, none of that turns out to be true.
Wholesale rejection of EC seed directive by GRAIN | 12 Oct 2007 Seedling - October 2007 Eight years ago directive 98/95/EC was issued to cover the whole of the seed industry within the European Community. It was recognised at the time that special conditions must be established for so-called “conservation varieties” of seeds, regarded as important for genetic conservation. It is this enabling legislation, spelling out what directive 98/95/EC means in practice, which was finally published in April.In the end, this enabling legisation has turned out to be highly restrictive. Eight years ago directive 98/95/EC was issued to cover the whole of the seed industry within the European Community. It was recognised at the time that special conditions must be established for so-called “conservation varieties” of seeds, regarded as important for genetic conservation. It is this enabling legislation, spelling out what directive 98/95/EC means in practice, which was finally published in April.In the end, this enabling legisation has turned out to be highly restrictive.
Film reviews by GRAIN | 10 Oct 2007 Seedling - October 2007 We review three films: "Squeezed" a film about the cost of free trade in the Asia–Pacific region; and two short films about fisherfolk in Canada We review three films: "Squeezed" a film about the cost of free trade in the Asia–Pacific region; and two short films about fisherfolk in Canada
Cracking some hard nuts by GRAIN | 5 Oct 2007 Seedling - October 2007 Behind the scenes, and together with others, GRAIN has been involved in two projects this year which are now drawing to a close - an external evaluation and a study on whether and how it could be possible to set up a special funding mechanism. Behind the scenes, and together with others, GRAIN has been involved in two projects this year which are now drawing to a close - an external evaluation and a study on whether and how it could be possible to set up a special funding mechanism.