Agriculture 3.0 or (smart) agroecology? by Francesco Ajena | 5 Jul 2019 There is a lot of hype about digital agriculture or precision farming being the solution to many of the current farming problems: environmental, social, economic. But who controls the technology, and how is it related to agroecology? An interesting reflection from Europe, by Francesco Ajena. There is a lot of hype about digital agriculture or precision farming being the solution to many of the current farming problems: environmental, social, economic. But who controls the technology, and how is it related to agroecology? An interesting reflection from Europe, by Francesco Ajena.
Civil society denounces the release of GM mosquitoes in Burkina Faso by African Centre for Biodiversity et al | 3 Jul 2019 We, the undersigned civil society organisations from Africa and around the world, denounce the release of genetically modified (GM) “male-sterile” mosquitoes in Burkina Faso. The GM mosquitoes were released in the village of Bana on 1 July 2019 by the Target Malaria research consortium. We, the undersigned civil society organisations from Africa and around the world, denounce the release of genetically modified (GM) “male-sterile” mosquitoes in Burkina Faso. The GM mosquitoes were released in the village of Bana on 1 July 2019 by the Target Malaria research consortium.
Release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Burkina Faso : communiqué from COPAGEN and CCAE by COPAGEN and CCAE | 2 Jul 2019 The Coalition for the Protection of African Genetic Heritage (COPAGEN) and the Citizen's Collective for Agroecology (CCAE) are bitterly discovering the imminent release of genetically modified mosquitoes as part of the Target Malaria project by the Institute for Research in Health Sciences (IRSS). The test release is scheduled for this July 1st 2019, in the village of Bama, part of district 7 of the municipality of Bobo Dioulasso. The Coalition for the Protection of African Genetic Heritage (COPAGEN) and the Citizen's Collective for Agroecology (CCAE) are bitterly discovering the imminent release of genetically modified mosquitoes as part of the Target Malaria project by the Institute for Research in Health Sciences (IRSS). The test release is scheduled for this July 1st 2019, in the village of Bama, part of district 7 of the municipality of Bobo Dioulasso.
New research shows public interest damage caused by corporate justice by CEO, TNI, FOEE and FOEI | 24 Jun 2019 New research published today reveals the devastating consequences of the controversial Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system. New research published today reveals the devastating consequences of the controversial Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system.
In Greece, a rebel organic farm goes against the grain by John Psaropoulos | 20 Jun 2019 On the Greek government's list of certified organic farmers, Antonis Antonopoulos has the serial number one. What makes Antonis and his brother Yiorgos a phenomenon, is not that their model farm pioneered organic methods in Greece; it's that they were among the first to realise that organically grown, local varieties of wheat and barley other farmers had cast aside could be a commercial hit. On the Greek government's list of certified organic farmers, Antonis Antonopoulos has the serial number one. What makes Antonis and his brother Yiorgos a phenomenon, is not that their model farm pioneered organic methods in Greece; it's that they were among the first to realise that organically grown, local varieties of wheat and barley other farmers had cast aside could be a commercial hit.
Connecting the dots: insane trade and climate chaos by Sean Keller | 20 Jun 2019 A great little article about the insanity of the current trade system and how it drives us deeper into the climate crisis. By Sean Keller of Local Futures A great little article about the insanity of the current trade system and how it drives us deeper into the climate crisis. By Sean Keller of Local Futures
340+ organisations call on the EU to immediately halt trade negotiations with Brazil by | 18 Jun 2019 In an open letter, over 340 civil society organisations are demanding that the European Union immediately halt free trade agreement negotiations with the Mercosur bloc (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) on the grounds of deteriorating human rights and environmental conditions in Brazil. The letter is addressed to presidents of the EU institutions ahead of the ministerial-level meeting next week in Brussels where EU and Mercosur foreign ministers aim to finalise the negotiations. In an open letter, over 340 civil society organisations are demanding that the European Union immediately halt free trade agreement negotiations with the Mercosur bloc (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) on the grounds of deteriorating human rights and environmental conditions in Brazil. The letter is addressed to presidents of the EU institutions ahead of the ministerial-level meeting next week in Brussels where EU and Mercosur foreign ministers aim to finalise the negotiations.
“Greening” the Belt and Road Initiative? What about people's rights? by Asia Pacific Research Network, Asia Peasant Coalition, GRAIN, Madhyam, People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty | 30 May 2019 Known as the greatest infrastructure project in history, China’s Belt and Road Initiative has already displaced thousands of small-scale food producers and threatens to displace hundreds of thousands more. It will also cause irreversible loss of biodiversity and significantly aggravate the global climate crisis. Instead of catering to the needs of the affected communities, the Chinese government has recently started to green-wash its BRI investments. National and international civil society organisations monitoring the development of the projects on the ground call upon the government of China to make the Belt and Road Initiative more transparent, to listen to the people affected and to provide real climate solutions. Known as the greatest infrastructure project in history, China’s Belt and Road Initiative has already displaced thousands of small-scale food producers and threatens to displace hundreds of thousands more. It will also cause irreversible loss of biodiversity and significantly aggravate the global climate crisis. Instead of catering to the needs of the affected communities, the Chinese government has recently started to green-wash its BRI investments. National and international civil society organisations monitoring the development of the projects on the ground call upon the government of China to make the Belt and Road Initiative more transparent, to listen to the people affected and to provide real climate solutions.
Rise of the petri-proteins? by ETC Group | 23 May 2019 An excellent overview of the potential impact of the growth of lab grown 'meat' under control of the large food corporations An excellent overview of the potential impact of the growth of lab grown 'meat' under control of the large food corporations
Digitalization of agriculture: what are the risks for farmers and populations in the Global South? by Cédric Leterme (CETRI) | 23 May 2019 In March 2019, an international meeting of social movements was held in Bangkok, Thailand, devoted to digital justice. About sixty activists and academics from all over the world participated. CETRI (Centre Tricontinental) interviewed Kartini Samon, researcher at GRAIN, who also participated in the meeting. In March 2019, an international meeting of social movements was held in Bangkok, Thailand, devoted to digital justice. About sixty activists and academics from all over the world participated. CETRI (Centre Tricontinental) interviewed Kartini Samon, researcher at GRAIN, who also participated in the meeting.
Free the Soil – Climate justice not agro-industry! by freethesoil.org | 3 May 2019 Free the Soil is a campaign to expose the devastating practices and impacts of industrial agriculture and the major role this industry plays in the escalating climate crisis. Get involved in the campaign for climate justice and against agro-industry! Free the Soil is a campaign to expose the devastating practices and impacts of industrial agriculture and the major role this industry plays in the escalating climate crisis. Get involved in the campaign for climate justice and against agro-industry!
Glyphosate revolt rocks Germany Inc. by Simon Marks, Eddy Wax and Maxime Schlee | 27 Apr 2019 Bayer’s management board suffers massive vote of no confidence over glyphosate. Bayer’s management board suffers massive vote of no confidence over glyphosate.
Stopping land grabs by university funds: farmers and faculties unite by Chris Morrill, Grassroots Int'l | 25 Apr 2019 A great piece by Grassroots Int'l about landgrabbing in Brazil by Harvard University, reporting on a visit of Maisa Mendonça, (director of Rede Social Brazil), and Devlin Kuyek of GRAIN. A great piece by Grassroots Int'l about landgrabbing in Brazil by Harvard University, reporting on a visit of Maisa Mendonça, (director of Rede Social Brazil), and Devlin Kuyek of GRAIN.
Deceptive IRRI strategy to get Golden Rice approved by Farida Akhter | 23 Apr 2019 The IRRI is desperate to get clearance in Bangladesh for commercial cultivation. They do not care about the potential risks it poses for the country and the major crop rice. It is also a threat to all other rice producing countries. Taking advantage of ‘weak’ regulatory agency and influencing of the authorities with misleading facts in unethical. It is also very surprising that IRRI is showing more interest in getting it approved than the applicant organisation Bangladesh Rice Research Institute. It is IRRI which is trying so hard for the approval using Bangladeshi regulatory agencies on GMOs. Why? The IRRI is desperate to get clearance in Bangladesh for commercial cultivation. They do not care about the potential risks it poses for the country and the major crop rice. It is also a threat to all other rice producing countries. Taking advantage of ‘weak’ regulatory agency and influencing of the authorities with misleading facts in unethical. It is also very surprising that IRRI is showing more interest in getting it approved than the applicant organisation Bangladesh Rice Research Institute. It is IRRI which is trying so hard for the approval using Bangladeshi regulatory agencies on GMOs. Why?
A dysfunctional plant variety protection system: ten years of UPOV implementation in francophone Africa by Mohamed Coulibaly, Robert Ali Brac de la Perrière, with contributions from Sangeeta Shashikant | 23 Apr 2019 In 1999, under the influence of Geneva-based institutions, developed countries and their seed industry, OAPI introduced Annex X on plant variety protection – modelled on UPOV 1991 – into the regional Bangui Agreement. More than 10 years after Annex X entered into force, a report by Mohamed Coulibaly and Bob Brac studies how Annex X has been operationalized, the impact and relevance of UPOV 1991 for the region and, in particular, whether the promises of UPOV 1991 were ever realized for the 17 countries in the OAPI region. The results of the investigation are staggering. In 1999, under the influence of Geneva-based institutions, developed countries and their seed industry, OAPI introduced Annex X on plant variety protection – modelled on UPOV 1991 – into the regional Bangui Agreement. More than 10 years after Annex X entered into force, a report by Mohamed Coulibaly and Bob Brac studies how Annex X has been operationalized, the impact and relevance of UPOV 1991 for the region and, in particular, whether the promises of UPOV 1991 were ever realized for the 17 countries in the OAPI region. The results of the investigation are staggering.