Nerica: a 'wonder' rice? by GRAIN | 20 Jan 2009 Seedling - January 2009 A cross between African and Asian rice – dubbed New Rice for Africa (Nerica) – is being hailed as a “miracle crop” that can bring Africa its long-promised Green Revolution in rice. A powerful coalition of governments, research institutes, private seed companies and donors are leading a major effort to spread varieties of Nerica seeds to all of the continent’s rice fields. They claim that Nerica can boost yields and make Africa self-sufficient in rice production. But is Nerica living up to the hype? A cross between African and Asian rice – dubbed New Rice for Africa (Nerica) – is being hailed as a “miracle crop” that can bring Africa its long-promised Green Revolution in rice. A powerful coalition of governments, research institutes, private seed companies and donors are leading a major effort to spread varieties of Nerica seeds to all of the continent’s rice fields. They claim that Nerica can boost yields and make Africa self-sufficient in rice production. But is Nerica living up to the hype?
Grabbing land for food by GRAIN | 18 Jan 2009 Seedling - January 2009 In a report published in October 2008, GRAIN describes how a host of nations – China, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and others – have been scouring the globe in search of arable land to buy or to lease for the production of crops for food or biofuels. What attracts attention is not just the amount of land involved – some of the deals involve more than a million acres – but the logic underlying the transactions. For this is not land that is being primarily acquired to produce crops to sell on the world market or to feed the local population. These crops are to be sent back to the nation that has acquired the land. Using its economic clout, the investing nation is taking over land – and, with it, the soil fertility and the water that are needed to cultivate crops – so that its people back home can have food to eat and fuel to put into their cars. In a report published in October 2008, GRAIN describes how a host of nations – China, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and others – have been scouring the globe in search of arable land to buy or to lease for the production of crops for food or biofuels. What attracts attention is not just the amount of land involved – some of the deals involve more than a million acres – but the logic underlying the transactions. For this is not land that is being primarily acquired to produce crops to sell on the world market or to feed the local population. These crops are to be sent back to the nation that has acquired the land. Using its economic clout, the investing nation is taking over land – and, with it, the soil fertility and the water that are needed to cultivate crops – so that its people back home can have food to eat and fuel to put into their cars.
Valentina Hemmeler Maïga by Interview by GRAIN | 16 Jan 2009 Seedling - January 2009 Valentina Hemmeler Maïga works for the peasant farmers’ association in Switzerland, Uniterre, which is a member of La Via Campesina. She is responsible for Uniterre’s food sovereignty campaign. Valentina Hemmeler Maïga works for the peasant farmers’ association in Switzerland, Uniterre, which is a member of La Via Campesina. She is responsible for Uniterre’s food sovereignty campaign.
Nerica - another trap for small farmers in Africa by GRAIN | 15 Jan 2009 Nerica rice varieties, a cross between African and Asian rice, are being hailed as a "miracle crop" that can bring Africa its long-promised green revolution in rice. A powerful coalition of governments, research institutes, private seed companies and donors are leading a major effort to spread Nerica seeds to all the continent's rice fields. They claim that Nerica can boost yields and make Africa self-sufficient in rice production. But outside the laboratories, Nerica is not living up to the hype. Since the first Nerica varieties were introduced in 1996, experience has been mixed among farmers, with reports of a wide range of problems. Perhaps the most serious concern with Nerica is that it is being promoted within a larger drive to expand agribusiness in Africa, which threatens to wipe out the real basis for African food sovereignty-- Africa's small farmers and their local seed systems. Nerica rice varieties, a cross between African and Asian rice, are being hailed as a "miracle crop" that can bring Africa its long-promised green revolution in rice. A powerful coalition of governments, research institutes, private seed companies and donors are leading a major effort to spread Nerica seeds to all the continent's rice fields. They claim that Nerica can boost yields and make Africa self-sufficient in rice production. But outside the laboratories, Nerica is not living up to the hype. Since the first Nerica varieties were introduced in 1996, experience has been mixed among farmers, with reports of a wide range of problems. Perhaps the most serious concern with Nerica is that it is being promoted within a larger drive to expand agribusiness in Africa, which threatens to wipe out the real basis for African food sovereignty-- Africa's small farmers and their local seed systems.
Biodiversity or dams? An Amazon community fights for its land by GRAIN | 14 Jan 2009 Seedling - January 2009 For the last five years the people of Mangabal, a small community beside the Tapajós river in the Brazilian Amazon, have been trying to win definitive rights over their land. They won their case in court, but now they are in more danger than ever of being expelled from their land: the territory they occupy is wanted to make way for hydroelectric power stations to supply energy to big mining companies. But the very process of fighting this latest threat is empowering the community. Mangabal’s ribeirinhos or riverbank dwellers have in the past viewed neighbouring indigenous groups as rivals or enemies, but now they are learning that they face many problems in common, and that only by mobilising together will they make real advances. For the last five years the people of Mangabal, a small community beside the Tapajós river in the Brazilian Amazon, have been trying to win definitive rights over their land. They won their case in court, but now they are in more danger than ever of being expelled from their land: the territory they occupy is wanted to make way for hydroelectric power stations to supply energy to big mining companies. But the very process of fighting this latest threat is empowering the community. Mangabal’s ribeirinhos or riverbank dwellers have in the past viewed neighbouring indigenous groups as rivals or enemies, but now they are learning that they face many problems in common, and that only by mobilising together will they make real advances.
Bangladesh: Spread of hybrid rice degrading land, increasing pesticide use say experts by GRAIN | 13 Jan 2009
Women, Communities and Plantations in Ecuador: Testimonials on a Socially and Environmentally Destructive Forestry Model by review by GRAIN | 12 Jan 2009 Seedling - January 2009 Over the last 20 years the Word Rainforest Movement (WRM) has been documenting the impact of monoculture tree plantations in countries throughout the world and supporting local struggles against them. For some time it has been focusing on Ecuador, because this country brings together some of the most serious problems created by such plantations. Over the last 20 years the Word Rainforest Movement (WRM) has been documenting the impact of monoculture tree plantations in countries throughout the world and supporting local struggles against them. For some time it has been focusing on Ecuador, because this country brings together some of the most serious problems created by such plantations.
Food sovereignty in Europe and Africa - two new booklets from BEDE by review by GRAIN | 10 Jan 2009 Seedling - January 2009 BEDE has published two important booklets, both available in English and French. BEDE has published two important booklets, both available in English and French.
Seeds of information by compiled by GRAIN | 8 Jan 2009 Seedling - January 2009 President Clinton said "We blew it.... we all have to go back to a more environmentally responsible, sustainable form of agriculture.” and other smaller items of interest. This section of Seedling is devoted to short topical items. We welcome contributions from readers. Please send them to [email protected] or to our postal address in Barcelona. President Clinton said "We blew it.... we all have to go back to a more environmentally responsible, sustainable form of agriculture.” and other smaller items of interest. This section of Seedling is devoted to short topical items. We welcome contributions from readers. Please send them to [email protected] or to our postal address in Barcelona.
Food crisis, FTAs and landgrabbing Contextualizing the struggle against FTAs in Asia by GRAIN | 29 Dec 2008 GRAIN sharing for Via Campesina strategy meeting in Dae-gu, South Korea, 1-5 December 2008 GRAIN sharing for Via Campesina strategy meeting in Dae-gu, South Korea, 1-5 December 2008
Korean women farmers on the Daewoo/Madagascar land deal by GRAIN | 4 Dec 2008 Land Daewoo Logistics is a subsidiary of the South Korean conglomerate Daewoo Corporation. In November 2008, world media reported that it was securing rights to 1.3 million hectares of farmland in Madagascar -- half the country's arable soils - to export back to Korea. A lot of people around the world were shocked by this news and called it neocolonialism. GRAIN sat down with Han Young Me of the Korean Women Peasants Alliance to learn what Korean farmers think of the Daewoo deal and of the Korean government's overall push to have corporations go abroad to produce the country's food. Daewoo Logistics is a subsidiary of the South Korean conglomerate Daewoo Corporation. In November 2008, world media reported that it was securing rights to 1.3 million hectares of farmland in Madagascar -- half the country's arable soils - to export back to Korea. A lot of people around the world were shocked by this news and called it neocolonialism. GRAIN sat down with Han Young Me of the Korean Women Peasants Alliance to learn what Korean farmers think of the Daewoo deal and of the Korean government's overall push to have corporations go abroad to produce the country's food.
Editorial and full issue by GRAIN | 30 Oct 2008 Seedling - October 2008 Download the whole issue of Seedling here, and read a summary of what's in this issue. Download the whole issue of Seedling here, and read a summary of what's in this issue.