THE CGIAR'S SYSTEMWIDE REVIEW by GRAIN | 25 Dec 1998 Seedling - December 1998 It was a long time coming, but was it worth the wait? The CGIAR's third external review does little to shake the system up and sends mixed messages to members and donors about its future direction. It was a long time coming, but was it worth the wait? The CGIAR's third external review does little to shake the system up and sends mixed messages to members and donors about its future direction.
Hot air over Hoodia by Rachel Wynberg | 13 Oct 2010 Seedling - October 2010 Almost 20 years ago the Convention on Biological Diversity was signed into existence. Now one of its core provisions – the creation of a regime that provides for equitable access to and benefit sharing from biodiversity – appears close to agreement. In October, the Parties to the Convention will meet in Nagoya, Japan, and are expected to agree on a final text. Meanwhile, at the national level, governments have started legislating on this issue. In this article, Rachel Wynberg analyses what this benefit sharing amounts to in the case of the San people of southern Africa, who have seen Hoodia – a plant used locally to stave off hunger – propelled into the centre of commercial interest. Almost 20 years ago the Convention on Biological Diversity was signed into existence. Now one of its core provisions – the creation of a regime that provides for equitable access to and benefit sharing from biodiversity – appears close to agreement. In October, the Parties to the Convention will meet in Nagoya, Japan, and are expected to agree on a final text. Meanwhile, at the national level, governments have started legislating on this issue. In this article, Rachel Wynberg analyses what this benefit sharing amounts to in the case of the San people of southern Africa, who have seen Hoodia – a plant used locally to stave off hunger – propelled into the centre of commercial interest.
TUG OF WAR OVER LIFE PATENTS by GRAIN | 25 Jun 1998 Seedling - June 1998 Recent international negotiations suggest that some governments are behaving more like industry's handmaidens rather than champions of their people. But people all over the world are making it known that they will not sit back and allow corporate greed to appropriate their livelihoods. Recent international negotiations suggest that some governments are behaving more like industry's handmaidens rather than champions of their people. But people all over the world are making it known that they will not sit back and allow corporate greed to appropriate their livelihoods.
FROM THE EDITORS by GRAIN | 25 Jun 1996 Seedling - June 1996 Facing up to the negotiations in FAO and the Convention on Biological Diversity this year, the Editors wrap up the three articles in this issue related to the industrialisation of agriculture and commodification of genetic resources with a brief reflection on the Global Plan of Action which is up for discussion this month in Leipzig. Facing up to the negotiations in FAO and the Convention on Biological Diversity this year, the Editors wrap up the three articles in this issue related to the industrialisation of agriculture and commodification of genetic resources with a brief reflection on the Global Plan of Action which is up for discussion this month in Leipzig.
with Carlos Correa by GRAIN | 18 Jan 2003 Seedling - January 2003 GRAIN's article in the October 2002 issue of Seedling entitled Biopiracy by another name: a review of the FAO-CGIAR trusteeship system stimulated quite some debate. To air some of the sticky points, we asked intellectual property rights expert Carlos Correa to share his views. GRAIN's article in the October 2002 issue of Seedling entitled Biopiracy by another name: a review of the FAO-CGIAR trusteeship system stimulated quite some debate. To air some of the sticky points, we asked intellectual property rights expert Carlos Correa to share his views.
Interview with Ibrahim Ouédraogo by GRAIN | 20 Oct 2004 Seedling - October 2004 Ibrahim Ouédraogo is Secretary-General of INADES-Formation, which brings together the African Institute for Economic and Social Development and the African Training Centre. It is a pan-African association of national organisations with commonly held objectives, strategies and financial resources working primarily with rural communities in ten countries of West, Central and East Africa. Ibrahim Ouédraogo is Secretary-General of INADES-Formation, which brings together the African Institute for Economic and Social Development and the African Training Centre. It is a pan-African association of national organisations with commonly held objectives, strategies and financial resources working primarily with rural communities in ten countries of West, Central and East Africa.
A Global Week of Action against GM, in Andhra Pradesh, India by GRAIN & DDS | 20 Apr 2005 Seedling - April 2005
FARMERS ' RIGHTS: TIME TO ACT by GRAIN | 25 Apr 1991 Seedling - April 1991 From 15 to 19 April, the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources meets to continue the debate on how to manage the earth 's genetic resources. One of the main issues on the agenda is the implementation of Farmers ' Rights. If Farmers ' Rights is meant as a compensation to farmers for their impressive role in the conservation and development of germplasm, it has to provide for mechanisms that ensure that farmers really benefit from it. This article dives into the background and concludes that there is a gap between the consensus reached in FAO and the day to day practice in the farmers ' fields. It argues for a direct voice from grassroots organisations in the priority-setting and implementation of genetic resources activities. Most importantly, it stresses that the FAO diplomats now have the opportunity and the obligation the move beyond words and start acting. From 15 to 19 April, the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources meets to continue the debate on how to manage the earth 's genetic resources. One of the main issues on the agenda is the implementation of Farmers ' Rights. If Farmers ' Rights is meant as a compensation to farmers for their impressive role in the conservation and development of germplasm, it has to provide for mechanisms that ensure that farmers really benefit from it. This article dives into the background and concludes that there is a gap between the consensus reached in FAO and the day to day practice in the farmers ' fields. It argues for a direct voice from grassroots organisations in the priority-setting and implementation of genetic resources activities. Most importantly, it stresses that the FAO diplomats now have the opportunity and the obligation the move beyond words and start acting.
TRADITIONAL PLANTS IN KENYA: REVERSING THE APATHY by GRAIN | 15 Apr 1991 Seedling - April 1991 As many of the trees, vegetables and fruits traditionally grown by farmers around the world are ignored by official research and extension services, indigenous knowledge about how they are grown and used for food, medicines and shelter is under threat too. But peoples ' organizations are striving to turn the tide. We report from Kenya where women farmers are showing renewed interest in these neglected crops. As many of the trees, vegetables and fruits traditionally grown by farmers around the world are ignored by official research and extension services, indigenous knowledge about how they are grown and used for food, medicines and shelter is under threat too. But peoples ' organizations are striving to turn the tide. We report from Kenya where women farmers are showing renewed interest in these neglected crops.
EUROPEAN NETWORK ON GENETIC RESOURCES MEETS by GRAIN | 25 Jul 1991 Seedling - July 1991 On 24-30 June, GRAIN hosted the Second European Network Meeting on Genetic Resources and Biotechnology in Barcelona, Spain. The meeting brought together some 70 people from 50 European non-governmental organisations engaged in public information, campaign and practical activities to strengthen local control over genetic diversity and biotechnology. Four days of brainstorming yielded a range of new analyses and priorities for action on key issues in the fields of grassroots conservation, biotechnology, biodiversity and Farmers ' Rights. On 24-30 June, GRAIN hosted the Second European Network Meeting on Genetic Resources and Biotechnology in Barcelona, Spain. The meeting brought together some 70 people from 50 European non-governmental organisations engaged in public information, campaign and practical activities to strengthen local control over genetic diversity and biotechnology. Four days of brainstorming yielded a range of new analyses and priorities for action on key issues in the fields of grassroots conservation, biotechnology, biodiversity and Farmers ' Rights.
FAREWELL, CHRISTIAN by Erna Bennett | 15 May 1993 Seedling - May 1993 Next month, June 1993, the renowned Gatersleben genebank in the former East Germany will celebrate its 50th anniversary. One man will be missing from the festivities: Christian Lehmann, who devoted his life to genetic resources and the success of the genebank. For next month is also the first anniversary of Lehmann 's unexpected death, which came at a time in his life when he was gearing up to work more closely with NGOs and community-based conservation initiatives. The following farewell was written for "Seedling" by Erna Bennett, also one of the greatest geneticists of this century and a revolutionary woman committed to people 's control over genetic resources. Erna was a stone setter in the move to get a global genetic conservation scheme set up in the 1960s, but now works actively with NGOs all over the world to secure viable and equitable farmer based approaches. Christian was her personal friend and colleague, so it is only apt that Erna offers him our collective farewell. Next month, June 1993, the renowned Gatersleben genebank in the former East Germany will celebrate its 50th anniversary. One man will be missing from the festivities: Christian Lehmann, who devoted his life to genetic resources and the success of the genebank. For next month is also the first anniversary of Lehmann 's unexpected death, which came at a time in his life when he was gearing up to work more closely with NGOs and community-based conservation initiatives. The following farewell was written for "Seedling" by Erna Bennett, also one of the greatest geneticists of this century and a revolutionary woman committed to people 's control over genetic resources. Erna was a stone setter in the move to get a global genetic conservation scheme set up in the 1960s, but now works actively with NGOs all over the world to secure viable and equitable farmer based approaches. Christian was her personal friend and colleague, so it is only apt that Erna offers him our collective farewell.
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)
Collective rights over farmers' seeds in Italy by GRAIN | 18 Jul 2005 Seedling - July 2005 In Italy, eight of the 18 administrative regions have adopted their own laws on local genetic resources since 1997. They generally aim to protect and promote traditional plant varieties and animal breeds in local farming systems as a heritage of the region. Since 2000, when the regional law of Latium was adopted, they also establish collective rights over the local genetic heritage. Below is an extract from an interview with Antonio Onorati, President of the Italian development NGO Crocevia, who has been very much involved in this movement. This segment focuses on the experience with collective rights in Italy and strategy ideas for protecting farmers ' seeds in Europe. The full interview can be accessed on the web at http://www.grain.org/seedling/?id=336 In Italy, eight of the 18 administrative regions have adopted their own laws on local genetic resources since 1997. They generally aim to protect and promote traditional plant varieties and animal breeds in local farming systems as a heritage of the region. Since 2000, when the regional law of Latium was adopted, they also establish collective rights over the local genetic heritage. Below is an extract from an interview with Antonio Onorati, President of the Italian development NGO Crocevia, who has been very much involved in this movement. This segment focuses on the experience with collective rights in Italy and strategy ideas for protecting farmers ' seeds in Europe. The full interview can be accessed on the web at http://www.grain.org/seedling/?id=336
IARCS WANT TO PATENT SEEDS by GRAIN | 25 Oct 1991 Seedling - October 1991 In a move intended to facilitate access to increasingly privatised biotechnologies, the Green Revolution Institutes are now contemplating not "whether" but "how best" to start claiming intellectual property rights over seeds collected from farmers ' fields throughout the Third World. GRAIN and many other NGOs and scientists are deeply disturbed by the proposals and urge Seedling readers to present their concerns to the relevant centres. In a move intended to facilitate access to increasingly privatised biotechnologies, the Green Revolution Institutes are now contemplating not "whether" but "how best" to start claiming intellectual property rights over seeds collected from farmers ' fields throughout the Third World. GRAIN and many other NGOs and scientists are deeply disturbed by the proposals and urge Seedling readers to present their concerns to the relevant centres.
Sharing FTA experiences by GRAIN | 22 Oct 2006 Seedling - October 2006 As FTAs (free trade agreements) are being signed around the world, their impact on society as a force pushing for deregulation and privatisation is starting to be felt. And grassroots struggles are fighting back. But these struggles, on varying issues, are often cut off from each other. So in July 2006 a workshop brought together 60 participants, from 19 countries, all of whom have been fighting FTAs, to share their experiences and to build a strategy to fight FTAs. As FTAs (free trade agreements) are being signed around the world, their impact on society as a force pushing for deregulation and privatisation is starting to be felt. And grassroots struggles are fighting back. But these struggles, on varying issues, are often cut off from each other. So in July 2006 a workshop brought together 60 participants, from 19 countries, all of whom have been fighting FTAs, to share their experiences and to build a strategy to fight FTAs.