Monsanto moves to tighten its control over Latin America by GRAIN | 5 Jun 2007 For the past two months, the Latin American press has been inundated with news of a fresh offensive by Monsanto in several Latin American countries. The US transnational corporation appears determined to complete the invasion of GM (genetically modified) crops throughout the continent and to crush the resistance that has arisen in response to the company’s attempt to control and dominate Latin American agriculture. For the past two months, the Latin American press has been inundated with news of a fresh offensive by Monsanto in several Latin American countries. The US transnational corporation appears determined to complete the invasion of GM (genetically modified) crops throughout the continent and to crush the resistance that has arisen in response to the company’s attempt to control and dominate Latin American agriculture.
The mobile seed festival by GRAIN | 1 Jun 2007 Every year in mid-January India-wide there are celebrations around the harvest of crops, one such festival is the Makar Sankrati. On that day several version of prayers are performed on the field for the crops that start coming in. This day of harvest is considered all the more auspicious when it occurs in a leap year. In the Southern India State of Andhra Pradesh, in Medak District’s Pastapur village communities celebrate the diversity of their seeds in a unique month long Mobile Biodiversity Festival. A photo essay by GRAIN Every year in mid-January India-wide there are celebrations around the harvest of crops, one such festival is the Makar Sankrati. On that day several version of prayers are performed on the field for the crops that start coming in. This day of harvest is considered all the more auspicious when it occurs in a leap year. In the Southern India State of Andhra Pradesh, in Medak District’s Pastapur village communities celebrate the diversity of their seeds in a unique month long Mobile Biodiversity Festival. A photo essay by GRAIN
Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India. A photo essay by GRAIN | 1 Jun 2007 Bir is a small village in the Kangra district of the North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is in the Deer Park Institute located at Bir that GRAIN along with its Indian collaborators – Kalpavriksh environment action group and other friends organised a North India level regional workshop on the “Biodiversity Regulation – Legality & Reality” through 17-18 May 2007. The setting in a microcosm reflected the threats to both natural diversity and diverse cultures across the globe; yet it showed people’s resolve to continue to strive and how little efforts could go a long way. Bir is a small village in the Kangra district of the North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is in the Deer Park Institute located at Bir that GRAIN along with its Indian collaborators – Kalpavriksh environment action group and other friends organised a North India level regional workshop on the “Biodiversity Regulation – Legality & Reality” through 17-18 May 2007. The setting in a microcosm reflected the threats to both natural diversity and diverse cultures across the globe; yet it showed people’s resolve to continue to strive and how little efforts could go a long way.
April 2007 by GRAIN | 22 Apr 2007 Seedling - April 2007 Read the editorial here & download full issue (pdf) Read the editorial here & download full issue (pdf)
Sorghum: a crop to feed the world or to profit the industry? by GRAIN | 20 Apr 2007 Seedling - April 2007 When maize withers and rice shrivels, people in many parts of the world depend on sorghum. Apart from eating the grain, farmers can make beer and use the stalks to build houses and fences, as well as produce animal feed and medicine.They have nurtured and adapted sorghum for 5,000 years, and it has spread along trade routes from its origin in Ethiopia. GRAIN reports on Ethiopian wheat and sorghum farmers who recovered from famine and on Indian farmers who came through the Green Revolution to restore their food sovereignty. Their stories contrast starkly with biotechnologists’ plans to turn yet another food crop into an export commodity. When maize withers and rice shrivels, people in many parts of the world depend on sorghum. Apart from eating the grain, farmers can make beer and use the stalks to build houses and fences, as well as produce animal feed and medicine.They have nurtured and adapted sorghum for 5,000 years, and it has spread along trade routes from its origin in Ethiopia. GRAIN reports on Ethiopian wheat and sorghum farmers who recovered from famine and on Indian farmers who came through the Green Revolution to restore their food sovereignty. Their stories contrast starkly with biotechnologists’ plans to turn yet another food crop into an export commodity.
Turkey's new seed law by GRAIN | 18 Apr 2007 Seedling - April 2007 In October 2006 the Turkish Grand National Assembly (parliament) passed a far-reaching law on seeds which, if it is fully implemented, will erode the farming practices of all those who work on the land: more than 35 per cent of Turkey’s population. The new law is part of a drive to bring the country’s legislation into line with the European Union, which Turkey’s government hopes eventually to join. In October 2006 the Turkish Grand National Assembly (parliament) passed a far-reaching law on seeds which, if it is fully implemented, will erode the farming practices of all those who work on the land: more than 35 per cent of Turkey’s population. The new law is part of a drive to bring the country’s legislation into line with the European Union, which Turkey’s government hopes eventually to join.
Bread of life by Hélène Zaharia | 16 Apr 2007 Seedling - April 2007 In their effort to improve the taste and nutritional value of their bread, a group of French paysans boulangers (peasant bakers) are seeking out old varieties of wheat, many of which had not been planted for more than half a century. Experimenting with them, they are discovering that some have unexpected advantages, such as provoking a much lower level of gluten intolerance among consumers than industrialised bread. In their effort to improve the taste and nutritional value of their bread, a group of French paysans boulangers (peasant bakers) are seeking out old varieties of wheat, many of which had not been planted for more than half a century. Experimenting with them, they are discovering that some have unexpected advantages, such as provoking a much lower level of gluten intolerance among consumers than industrialised bread.