Seedling on agrofuels in Hindi by GRAIN | 25 Oct 2007 Seedling special issue on agrofuels in Hindi Seedling special issue on agrofuels in Hindi
Seedling - October 2009, special issue on food & climate 21 Oct 2009 Today’s global food system, with all its high-tech seeds and fancy packaging, cannot fulfil its most basic function of feeding people. Despite this monumental failure, there is no talk in the corridors of power of changing direction. Large and growing movements of people clamour for change, but the world’s governments and international agencies keep pushing more of the same: more agribusiness, more industrial agriculture, more globalisation. As the planet moves into an accelerating period of climate change, driven, in large part, by this very model of agriculture, such failure to take meaningful action will rapidly worsen an already intolerable situation. But in the worldwide movement for food sovereignty, there is a promising way out. Today’s global food system, with all its high-tech seeds and fancy packaging, cannot fulfil its most basic function of feeding people. Despite this monumental failure, there is no talk in the corridors of power of changing direction. Large and growing movements of people clamour for change, but the world’s governments and international agencies keep pushing more of the same: more agribusiness, more industrial agriculture, more globalisation. As the planet moves into an accelerating period of climate change, driven, in large part, by this very model of agriculture, such failure to take meaningful action will rapidly worsen an already intolerable situation. But in the worldwide movement for food sovereignty, there is a promising way out.
Seedling - January 2010 21 Jan 2010 Read the editorial or download the full issue in pdf Read the editorial or download the full issue in pdf
Seedling - July 2010 21 Jul 2010 GRAIN has been around since 1990, and to celebrate this we have devoted most of this issue of Seedling to looking at how we – and the issues that we deal with – have changed over this period. To mark the occasion, we have also altered our design into one that we feel is modern, practical and pleasing to the eye. GRAIN has been around since 1990, and to celebrate this we have devoted most of this issue of Seedling to looking at how we – and the issues that we deal with – have changed over this period. To mark the occasion, we have also altered our design into one that we feel is modern, practical and pleasing to the eye.
Seedling - October 2010 1 Oct 2010 The October 2010 issue of Seedling features an article by GRAIN on the global expansion of industrial meat production and the rise of a new crop of transnational meat corporations based in countries of the South. In another article, GRAIN looks at what's happening on the climate change front with a special focus on the outcome of the Peoples Summit in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Also in this issue, are two articles by the World Rainforest Movement, one on the push for "carbon shopping in forests" and another on the Roundtable for Responsible Palm Oil's role in expanding monoculture oil palm plantations. Plus, South African researcher Rachel Wynberg takes a critical look back at the experiences of the San peoples of southern Africa with the high-profile case of access-and-benefit sharing concerning the Hoodia plant. And more..... (download pdf version from document tools) The October 2010 issue of Seedling features an article by GRAIN on the global expansion of industrial meat production and the rise of a new crop of transnational meat corporations based in countries of the South. In another article, GRAIN looks at what's happening on the climate change front with a special focus on the outcome of the Peoples Summit in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Also in this issue, are two articles by the World Rainforest Movement, one on the push for "carbon shopping in forests" and another on the Roundtable for Responsible Palm Oil's role in expanding monoculture oil palm plantations. Plus, South African researcher Rachel Wynberg takes a critical look back at the experiences of the San peoples of southern Africa with the high-profile case of access-and-benefit sharing concerning the Hoodia plant. And more..... (download pdf version from document tools)
Sprouting Up: THE IU INCHES TOWARDS THE FINISH LINE by GRAIN | 24 Jun 2001 Seedling - June 2001 An update on the recent meeting of the International Undertaking on Food and Agriculture in Spoleto, Italy. An update on the recent meeting of the International Undertaking on Food and Agriculture in Spoleto, Italy.
A DECADE IN REVIEW by GRAIN | 25 Feb 1993 Seedling - February 1993 Over the past ten years of Seedling 's history, what was once known as "the seeds issue" has passed from being a concern of very few individuals on this planet to the highlight of controversy among the 30,000 attendees of the UN Conference on Environment and Development -- the "Earth" Summit -- in Rio last June. To a large extent, the only progress traceable through Seedling 's trajectory over the past decade is the enormous growth of public awareness about the importance and causes of genetic erosion in world agriculture. The real work to effectively reverse this threat to global food security, to implement equitable and integrated strategies for genetic resources management, and to put farmers at the wheel of agricultural development, and their own destinies, still lies ahead of us. Over the past ten years of Seedling 's history, what was once known as "the seeds issue" has passed from being a concern of very few individuals on this planet to the highlight of controversy among the 30,000 attendees of the UN Conference on Environment and Development -- the "Earth" Summit -- in Rio last June. To a large extent, the only progress traceable through Seedling 's trajectory over the past decade is the enormous growth of public awareness about the importance and causes of genetic erosion in world agriculture. The real work to effectively reverse this threat to global food security, to implement equitable and integrated strategies for genetic resources management, and to put farmers at the wheel of agricultural development, and their own destinies, still lies ahead of us.
Good ideas turned bad? A glossary of rights-related terminology by GRAIN | 25 Jan 2004 Seedling - January 2004 GRAIN takes a critical look at some such key concepts related to knowledge, biodiversity and intellectual property rights. Many of these words and phrases look innocent enough at a first glance, but on deeper examination, we can see how they have been twisted, manipulated, usurped, devalued and/or denatured. Some are used to constrain us and lock us into a particular way of thinking, and others are used against us. This is not an exercise aimed at drawing final conclusions, but an invitation to deconstruct some definitions and start the search for new terminology and ways of thinking that may help us untangle us from some of the conceptual traps we are stuck in. GRAIN takes a critical look at some such key concepts related to knowledge, biodiversity and intellectual property rights. Many of these words and phrases look innocent enough at a first glance, but on deeper examination, we can see how they have been twisted, manipulated, usurped, devalued and/or denatured. Some are used to constrain us and lock us into a particular way of thinking, and others are used against us. This is not an exercise aimed at drawing final conclusions, but an invitation to deconstruct some definitions and start the search for new terminology and ways of thinking that may help us untangle us from some of the conceptual traps we are stuck in.
Cupuaçu - a case of amazonian self-assertion by Michael Schmidlehner | 18 Apr 2003 Seedling - April 2003
Poisoning the well: the genetic pollution of maize by GRAIN | 26 Jan 2003 Seedling - January 2003 The worst-case scenario envisioned, bythe introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops, has now taken place. GM maize has been planted in Mexico, the crop's centre of origin and diversity, and it has been contaminating this priceless gene pool. Although many in the official circles are still in denial, GRAIN asks what must be done to clean up the mess. The worst-case scenario envisioned, bythe introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops, has now taken place. GM maize has been planted in Mexico, the crop's centre of origin and diversity, and it has been contaminating this priceless gene pool. Although many in the official circles are still in denial, GRAIN asks what must be done to clean up the mess.
The native sheep of Chiapas: A story of fleeces, global markets and women in woollen skirts by Raul Perezgrovas | 22 Jan 2003 Seedling - January 2003 In Mexico, the boom time enjoyed after introducing crossbred sheep was short-lived as globalisation destroyed internal and external markets for the Mexican industry. But in the highlands of Chiapas, Tzotzil shepherdesses managed successfully to side-step globalisation and hold on to their cherished local breeds. Now Chiapas is one of the few remaining areas of Mexico where sheep - especially native sheep - are thriving. In Mexico, the boom time enjoyed after introducing crossbred sheep was short-lived as globalisation destroyed internal and external markets for the Mexican industry. But in the highlands of Chiapas, Tzotzil shepherdesses managed successfully to side-step globalisation and hold on to their cherished local breeds. Now Chiapas is one of the few remaining areas of Mexico where sheep - especially native sheep - are thriving.
GENETIC RESOURCES ON THE INTERNET by GRAIN | 11 Dec 1995 Seedling - December 1995 Since the Internet is also providing information in the area of plant genetic resources, Seedling will be including a regular part on the Internet in our section "Resources & Documentation". Since the Internet is also providing information in the area of plant genetic resources, Seedling will be including a regular part on the Internet in our section "Resources & Documentation".
ENGINEERED BT: FROM PEST TO MARKET CONTROL by GRAIN | 25 Dec 1995 Seedling - December 1995 As chemical pesticides are increasingly rejected, the agrochemical industry is rushing to develop alternatives suiting its corporate interests. Side-stepping predicted resistance problems, it is focusing investment on Bacillus thuringiensis. An update. As chemical pesticides are increasingly rejected, the agrochemical industry is rushing to develop alternatives suiting its corporate interests. Side-stepping predicted resistance problems, it is focusing investment on Bacillus thuringiensis. An update.