Food sovereignty for sale: supermarkets are undermining people's control over food and farming in Asia by GRAIN | 17 Sep 2014 In the past decade, food corporations have been taking over a bigger and bigger slice of the retail pie in Asia, with major implications for the entire food chain. Corporate supermarkets are expanding faster in this region than anywhere else on the planet. And as supermarkets and their procurement chains expand, they take revenue out of traditional food systems – and out of the hands of peasants, small scale food producers and traders. They also exert increasing influence over what people eat and how that food is produced. In the past decade, food corporations have been taking over a bigger and bigger slice of the retail pie in Asia, with major implications for the entire food chain. Corporate supermarkets are expanding faster in this region than anywhere else on the planet. And as supermarkets and their procurement chains expand, they take revenue out of traditional food systems – and out of the hands of peasants, small scale food producers and traders. They also exert increasing influence over what people eat and how that food is produced.
Land grabber's paradise: Cameroonian environmentalist faces trial by GRAIN | Oakland Institute | World Rainforest Movement | 17 Jun 2014 GRAIN, the Oakland Institute and the World Rainforest Movement call on Herakles and the Cameroonian government to drop all charges against Nasako Besingi and his fellow activists and instead engage in good faith with local communities seeking to defend their lands. GRAIN, the Oakland Institute and the World Rainforest Movement call on Herakles and the Cameroonian government to drop all charges against Nasako Besingi and his fellow activists and instead engage in good faith with local communities seeking to defend their lands.
Hungry for land by GRAIN and La Vía Campesina | 28 May 2014 Media releases A joint media release from GRAIN and La Vía Campesina on a new report, "Hungry for land", issues an urgent call for land to be put back in the hands of small farmers. The struggle for genuine and comprehensive agrarian reform is central to the fight for better food systems. A joint media release from GRAIN and La Vía Campesina on a new report, "Hungry for land", issues an urgent call for land to be put back in the hands of small farmers. The struggle for genuine and comprehensive agrarian reform is central to the fight for better food systems.
Hungry for land: small farmers feed the world with less than a quarter of all farmland by GRAIN | 28 May 2014 Land It is commonly heard today that small farmers produce most of the world's food. But how many of us realise that they are doing this with less than a quarter of the world's farmland, and that even this meagre share is shrinking fast? GRAIN took an in depth look at the data to see what is going on. It is commonly heard today that small farmers produce most of the world's food. But how many of us realise that they are doing this with less than a quarter of the world's farmland, and that even this meagre share is shrinking fast? GRAIN took an in depth look at the data to see what is going on.
2,4-D soy: waging war on peasants by GRAIN | 26 May 2014 Dow Agrosciences is proposing new varieties of transgenic soy which will result in the use of millions more litres of even more toxic herbicides. But sustained resistance is growing in all five countries where Dow is seeking regulatory approval as the impacts of GM technologies are denounced and the fallacies that allowed for them to be rolled out are exposed. Dow Agrosciences is proposing new varieties of transgenic soy which will result in the use of millions more litres of even more toxic herbicides. But sustained resistance is growing in all five countries where Dow is seeking regulatory approval as the impacts of GM technologies are denounced and the fallacies that allowed for them to be rolled out are exposed.
Senhuile director arrested for alleged financial crime by GRAIN, Ndiaël Collective, Oakland Institute and Re:Common | 21 May 2014 Media releases Benjamin Dummai, the Director-General of Senhuile SA, an Italian-Senegalese agribusiness project illegitimately occupying 20,000 hectares in northern Senegal, was last week fired by his board of directors and arrested by Senegalese authorities last week. Local media has reported that he has been accused of embezzling almost half a million dollars. Benjamin Dummai, the Director-General of Senhuile SA, an Italian-Senegalese agribusiness project illegitimately occupying 20,000 hectares in northern Senegal, was last week fired by his board of directors and arrested by Senegalese authorities last week. Local media has reported that he has been accused of embezzling almost half a million dollars.
No agrobiodiversity without peasants by GRAIN | 22 Mar 2014 Governments and intergovernmental agreements on agrobiodiversity do not improve farmer and indigenous rights, the team of GRAIN argues. The peasants who are keeping agrobiodiversity alive are under threat from the rapid expansion of industrial farming. We need to fight for food sovereignty to preserve local agrobiodiversity. A short opinion piece by GRAIN in Farming Matters Magazine. Governments and intergovernmental agreements on agrobiodiversity do not improve farmer and indigenous rights, the team of GRAIN argues. The peasants who are keeping agrobiodiversity alive are under threat from the rapid expansion of industrial farming. We need to fight for food sovereignty to preserve local agrobiodiversity. A short opinion piece by GRAIN in Farming Matters Magazine.
Ejolt report 10: The many faces of land grabbing. Cases from Africa and Latin America. by GRAIN et al. | 13 Mar 2014 This report, published by Ejolt, describes and analyzes specific cases of land grabbing around the world as well as successful cases of resistance and the different types of alliances that can be made to fight land grabbing. This report, published by Ejolt, describes and analyzes specific cases of land grabbing around the world as well as successful cases of resistance and the different types of alliances that can be made to fight land grabbing.
Senegalese farmers and herders demand shady transnational corporation Senhuile SA get off their land by The Ndiaël Collective et al. | 27 Feb 2014 Farmers and herders from northwestern Senegal have travelled to Europe to demand the scrapping of a land deal that threatens the lives and livelihoods of some 9,000 people. Please join their action now! Farmers and herders from northwestern Senegal have travelled to Europe to demand the scrapping of a land deal that threatens the lives and livelihoods of some 9,000 people. Please join their action now!
Karuturi, the iconic landgrabber, flops by TJN et al | 14 Feb 2014 Media releases Karuturi Ltd, the Kenyan flower production unit of Karuturi Global, is in financial collapse and been put under receivership. One of the world's most infamous landgrabbers is in its deepest trouble yet. Karuturi Ltd, the Kenyan flower production unit of Karuturi Global, is in financial collapse and been put under receivership. One of the world's most infamous landgrabbers is in its deepest trouble yet.
Cameroon activists on trial for peaceful protest against Wall Street land grabber by Local and international NGOs | 30 Jan 2014 Land Email Herakles Farms and tell the company to stop its intimidation of Nasako Besingi and other defenders of local communities and forests Email Herakles Farms and tell the company to stop its intimidation of Nasako Besingi and other defenders of local communities and forests
Defending people's milk in India by GRAIN | 27 Jan 2014 Corporations The vibrant network of small producers and milk cooperatives that makes up most of India's dairy sector is a powerful model: one which is now threatened by free trade agreements and liberalised investment policies. The vibrant network of small producers and milk cooperatives that makes up most of India's dairy sector is a powerful model: one which is now threatened by free trade agreements and liberalised investment policies.
Long struggle against Indonesia oil palm land grab by GRAIN | 21 Jan 2014 During 20 years of struggle to regain their lands and improve working conditions on oil palm plantations, the villagers of Buol, in Central Sulawesi, have had little but empty words from the company and the government. The only real gains they have made have come from direct actions. However, the risk with actions such as roadblocks and occupations is violent repression. Now the villagers are optimistic that they are finally close to getting their lands back. During 20 years of struggle to regain their lands and improve working conditions on oil palm plantations, the villagers of Buol, in Central Sulawesi, have had little but empty words from the company and the government. The only real gains they have made have come from direct actions. However, the risk with actions such as roadblocks and occupations is violent repression. Now the villagers are optimistic that they are finally close to getting their lands back.
CSO response to the CAO investigation into IFC investment in Corporación Dinant, Honduras by International and Honduran CSOs | 16 Jan 2014 Internal investigation found the World Bank's International Finance Corporation failed to adhere to policies to protect local communities; failed to disclose vital project information, consult with local communities, or identify the project as a high-risk investment; ignored or failed to spot the serious social, political and human rights Dinant operates in. Internal investigation found the World Bank's International Finance Corporation failed to adhere to policies to protect local communities; failed to disclose vital project information, consult with local communities, or identify the project as a high-risk investment; ignored or failed to spot the serious social, political and human rights Dinant operates in.
Sierra Leone farmers reject land grab for oil palm plantation by GRAIN | 7 Jan 2014 In December 2013, police in Sierra Leone's Pujehun District opened fire on villagers gathered to express their grievances over the lease of 6,500 hectares of land to the Socfin Agricultural Company. It was only the latest incident in a deteriorating situation in Pujehun. In December 2013, police in Sierra Leone's Pujehun District opened fire on villagers gathered to express their grievances over the lease of 6,500 hectares of land to the Socfin Agricultural Company. It was only the latest incident in a deteriorating situation in Pujehun.