Feeding the corporate coffers: why hybrid rice continues to fail Asia’s small farmers* by GRAIN | 13 Apr 2010 Seedling - April 2010 The idea of using hybrid rice technology to feed humanity has certainly paid off for the companies behind it: they are getting a huge return from seeds and agrochemical sales. However, reason dictates that more than a decade of investment in this poorly performing rice should be enough. The idea of using hybrid rice technology to feed humanity has certainly paid off for the companies behind it: they are getting a huge return from seeds and agrochemical sales. However, reason dictates that more than a decade of investment in this poorly performing rice should be enough.
INDONESIA: Planthoppers hit hybrid rice by GRAIN | 12 Apr 2010 Scientists with the Indonesian Centre for Food Crops Research and Development are reporting an alarming increase in infestations of brown planthoppers in the province of West Java. Scientists with the Indonesian Centre for Food Crops Research and Development are reporting an alarming increase in infestations of brown planthoppers in the province of West Java.
Land grabbing in Latin America by GRAIN | 29 Mar 2010 Right now communities in Latin America, as around the world, are suffering a new kind of invasion of their territories. Millions of hectares of farmland in Latin America have been taken over by these foreign investors over the past few years for the production of food crops and agrofuels for export. Much of the money comes from US and European pension funds, banks, private equity groups, and wealthy individuals, and it is being channelled through special farmland investment vehicles set up by both foreign and local companies. Right now communities in Latin America, as around the world, are suffering a new kind of invasion of their territories. Millions of hectares of farmland in Latin America have been taken over by these foreign investors over the past few years for the production of food crops and agrofuels for export. Much of the money comes from US and European pension funds, banks, private equity groups, and wealthy individuals, and it is being channelled through special farmland investment vehicles set up by both foreign and local companies.
Editorial and full issue by GRAIN | 14 Jan 2010 Seedling - January 2010 Read the editorial or download the full issue in pdf Read the editorial or download the full issue in pdf
Unravelling the “miracle” of Malawi’s green revolution by GRAIN | 14 Jan 2010 Seedling - January 2010 Malawi’s green revolution success story has been lauded around the world. While it is good to see a government investing in local food production, it is doubtful whether the achievements will be sustainable unless radical changes are implemented. Above all, land needs to be redistributed so that farmers have holdings that are big enough to produce surpluses, and the government needs to move away from its narrow focus on chemical fertlisers and hybrid maize seeds. Malawi’s green revolution success story has been lauded around the world. While it is good to see a government investing in local food production, it is doubtful whether the achievements will be sustainable unless radical changes are implemented. Above all, land needs to be redistributed so that farmers have holdings that are big enough to produce surpluses, and the government needs to move away from its narrow focus on chemical fertlisers and hybrid maize seeds.
Africa's land and family farms - up for grabs? by Joan Baxter | 14 Jan 2010 Seedling - January 2010 Over the years many Big Ideas have been imposed on Africa from outside. The latest is that the region should sell or lease millions of hectares of land to foreign investors, who will bring resources and up-to-date technology. None of the blueprints has worked, and African farmers have become increasingly impoverished. It is time for Africans to turn to their own histories, knowledge and resources. Over the years many Big Ideas have been imposed on Africa from outside. The latest is that the region should sell or lease millions of hectares of land to foreign investors, who will bring resources and up-to-date technology. None of the blueprints has worked, and African farmers have become increasingly impoverished. It is time for Africans to turn to their own histories, knowledge and resources.
Agricultural workers still struggle for their rights by Sue Longley | 14 Jan 2010 Seedling - January 2010 More than one billion people in the world are employed in agriculture, and most work in extremely precarious conditions. They cannot guarantee the food security of their families. Improvements will come only if these workers are better organised and better able to engage in collective bargaining. The IUF is working with its affiliates to make this happen. More than one billion people in the world are employed in agriculture, and most work in extremely precarious conditions. They cannot guarantee the food security of their families. Improvements will come only if these workers are better organised and better able to engage in collective bargaining. The IUF is working with its affiliates to make this happen.
What 'financialisation' means for food workers by Peter Rossman | 14 Jan 2010 Seedling - January 2010 Over the last couple of decades there has been a huge swelling in the importance of the financial sector in the world economy. Investors now demand the same elevated returns in all economic sectors – including food and agriculture. As a result, even manufacturing and service corporations have been “financialised”. The dominant financial logic places little value on real production, productivity or jobs. This is extremely harmful to the vast majority of the world’s population, and it has enormous implications for the billions of people involved in food production. Over the last couple of decades there has been a huge swelling in the importance of the financial sector in the world economy. Investors now demand the same elevated returns in all economic sectors – including food and agriculture. As a result, even manufacturing and service corporations have been “financialised”. The dominant financial logic places little value on real production, productivity or jobs. This is extremely harmful to the vast majority of the world’s population, and it has enormous implications for the billions of people involved in food production.
Indian farmers organise to stop Bt brinjal by GRAIN | 14 Jan 2010 Seedling - January 2010 On 14 October 2009 an Indian governmental agency – the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), part of the Environment Ministry – gave its approval for the environmental release of Bt brinjal. [1] This means that the crop is considered safe for use in an open space, which includes planting on a commercial scale. Bt brinjal would be the first genetically engineered food crop to be approved for commercial cultivation in India, and the government sees it as the first of many. Update: On 9 February 2010, in response to the widespread concern expressed by the public and some scientists, Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment and Forests, announced an indefinite moratorium on the release of Bt-brinjal. On 14 October 2009 an Indian governmental agency – the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), part of the Environment Ministry – gave its approval for the environmental release of Bt brinjal. [1] This means that the crop is considered safe for use in an open space, which includes planting on a commercial scale. Bt brinjal would be the first genetically engineered food crop to be approved for commercial cultivation in India, and the government sees it as the first of many. Update: On 9 February 2010, in response to the widespread concern expressed by the public and some scientists, Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment and Forests, announced an indefinite moratorium on the release of Bt-brinjal.
Contaminated Canadian flax barred from Europe by Lucy Sharratt | 14 Jan 2010 Seedling - January 2010 In September 2009, farmers in Canada were shocked to learn that their flax (linseed) exports were contaminated with genetically modified (GM) flax. The timing could not have been worse: just as farmers began their harvest, companies in Europe began detecting GM flax contamination, and the European market was closed to Canadian flax. It is not unusual to have crops contaminated by their GM equivalents, but this particular contamination was wholly unexpected because it has been illegal to sell GM flax seed in Canada since 2001. In September 2009, farmers in Canada were shocked to learn that their flax (linseed) exports were contaminated with genetically modified (GM) flax. The timing could not have been worse: just as farmers began their harvest, companies in Europe began detecting GM flax contamination, and the European market was closed to Canadian flax. It is not unusual to have crops contaminated by their GM equivalents, but this particular contamination was wholly unexpected because it has been illegal to sell GM flax seed in Canada since 2001.
Interview with Raúl Zibechi by GRAIN | 14 Jan 2010 Seedling - January 2010 Raúl Zibechi is a Uruguayan journalist, writer and activist, who has travelled widely in Latin America, particularly in the Andean countries. He is especially interested in social movements and has written extensively on them, notably in Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile and Colombia. Raúl Zibechi is a Uruguayan journalist, writer and activist, who has travelled widely in Latin America, particularly in the Andean countries. He is especially interested in social movements and has written extensively on them, notably in Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile and Colombia.
Remembering La Gloria by GRAIN | 13 Jan 2010 New television documentary traces origins of the H1N1 pandemic back to pig farms in Mexico Out of the swine flu crisis, the struggle against factory farming has grown stronger, moving from isolated local resistance to a major component of a national movement. A new documentary on the H1N1 pandemic and factory farming, based on the experiences of La Gloria and the neighbouring communities, now brings this struggle to an international audience and puts factory farming back on centre stage in the story of the H1N1 pandemic. New television documentary traces origins of the H1N1 pandemic back to pig farms in Mexico Out of the swine flu crisis, the struggle against factory farming has grown stronger, moving from isolated local resistance to a major component of a national movement. A new documentary on the H1N1 pandemic and factory farming, based on the experiences of La Gloria and the neighbouring communities, now brings this struggle to an international audience and puts factory farming back on centre stage in the story of the H1N1 pandemic.
Small farmers can cool the planet - presentation by GRAIN | 30 Dec 2009 Climate A way out of the mayhem caused by the industrial food system. A presentation with concise data on how industrial agriculture plays a big role in the climate crisis and how diversified, small-scale farming and local markets can solve the problem. A way out of the mayhem caused by the industrial food system. A presentation with concise data on how industrial agriculture plays a big role in the climate crisis and how diversified, small-scale farming and local markets can solve the problem.
Small scale sustainable farmers are cooling down the earth by Via Campesina | 10 Dec 2009 Via Campesina booklet on small farmers and the climate crisis. Contains a chapter by GRAIN Via Campesina booklet on small farmers and the climate crisis. Contains a chapter by GRAIN