Transgenic rice once again proposed as solution to bacterial blight outbreaks, this time in Africa by GRAIN | 6 Sep 2023 Seeds Scientists from an international rice initiative claim the patented transgenic varieties they have developed are the solution to an outbreak of bacterial blight in rice fields in East Africa. A similar argument was used 20 years ago to try and introduce a transgenic variety of rice in Asia. Scientists from an international rice initiative claim the patented transgenic varieties they have developed are the solution to an outbreak of bacterial blight in rice fields in East Africa. A similar argument was used 20 years ago to try and introduce a transgenic variety of rice in Asia.
The summit of public development banks in Cartagena cannot greenwash their financing of destructive agriculture by GRAIN | 4 Sep 2023 Los bancos públicos de desarrollo no pueden maquillar de verde su apoyo a la agricultura destructiva. Los préstamos otorgados por bancos de desarrollo a las corporaciones, permiten expandir actividades destructivas como la crianza intensiva de animales. Los bancos públicos de desarrollo no pueden maquillar de verde su apoyo a la agricultura destructiva. Los préstamos otorgados por bancos de desarrollo a las corporaciones, permiten expandir actividades destructivas como la crianza intensiva de animales.
Rest in peace, Dr Melaku! by GRAIN | 1 Aug 2023 Seeds A few words from GRAIN in honour of Dr Melaku Worede A few words from GRAIN in honour of Dr Melaku Worede
What future for seeds under the African Free Trade Area? by Mohamed Coulibaly & GRAIN | 20 Jul 2023 Seeds The African Free Trade Agreement requires the protection of intellectual property rights on seeds. Given that half of African countries are already aligned with the UPOV model, which serves industrial agriculture, the agreement will boost this trend. The African Free Trade Agreement requires the protection of intellectual property rights on seeds. Given that half of African countries are already aligned with the UPOV model, which serves industrial agriculture, the agreement will boost this trend.
Carbon rice farming: A license to pollute at the expense of small farmers by GRAIN | 13 Jul 2023 Climate Corporate interest in rice carbon farming projects is exploding. They are now the second most popular project in the agriculture sector. These greenwashing tactics are burdening small farmers in developing countries & leaving them uncertain benefits. Corporate interest in rice carbon farming projects is exploding. They are now the second most popular project in the agriculture sector. These greenwashing tactics are burdening small farmers in developing countries & leaving them uncertain benefits.
Why Benin should not join UPOV by Collective | 20 Jun 2023 Seeds | Media releases Social movements call on Benin to reconsider membership in UPOV, urging protection of local seed systems and food sovereignty. Social movements call on Benin to reconsider membership in UPOV, urging protection of local seed systems and food sovereignty.
Persecution against rights defenders of the Afro-Ecuadorian commune of Barranquilla de San Javier by Acción Ecológica & GRAIN | 5 Jun 2023 Land After months of judicial criminalisation of four peasants that defend their forest from the expansion of oil palm plantations, on 12 June a new possibility of justice will open up for the judges of the Ecuadorian courts to exonerate and free these people from the commune of Barranquilla de San Javier de Cachaví from all charges. After months of judicial criminalisation of four peasants that defend their forest from the expansion of oil palm plantations, on 12 June a new possibility of justice will open up for the judges of the Ecuadorian courts to exonerate and free these people from the commune of Barranquilla de San Javier de Cachaví from all charges.
A corporate cartel fertilises food inflation by GRAIN & IATP | 23 May 2023 Corporations A new report reveals rampant profiteering from the fertiliser industry, emphasising the urgent need for global cuts in chemical fertiliser use. Sustainable, agroecological farming systems less reliant on chemical input is key to building resilient food systems. A new report reveals rampant profiteering from the fertiliser industry, emphasising the urgent need for global cuts in chemical fertiliser use. Sustainable, agroecological farming systems less reliant on chemical input is key to building resilient food systems.
New leadership in GRAIN by GRAIN | 28 Apr 2023 Today GRAIN’s co-founder & coordinator, Henk Hobbelink will retire & hand over his responsibilities to GRAIN staffer Kartini Samon, based in Indonesia. Thank you to our colleagues, partners, allies and friends across the world for your continued support! Today GRAIN’s co-founder & coordinator, Henk Hobbelink will retire & hand over his responsibilities to GRAIN staffer Kartini Samon, based in Indonesia. Thank you to our colleagues, partners, allies and friends across the world for your continued support!
Rest well, Tewolde by GRAIN | 22 Mar 2023 Dr. Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher, the renowned Ethiopian environmental scientist and advocate, has died at the age of 83 on March 21 in Addis Ababa. In the late 1990s, Tewolde served on GRAIN’s board of directors. Dr. Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher, the renowned Ethiopian environmental scientist and advocate, has died at the age of 83 on March 21 in Addis Ababa. In the late 1990s, Tewolde served on GRAIN’s board of directors.
Grateful respects to the “millet man” of India, PV Satheesh by GRAIN | 20 Mar 2023 GRAIN joins the DDS family and many allies around the world in mourning the loss of our friend and mentor PV Satheesh. Satheesh was the founder and director of the Deccan Development Society in India. Together with the women farmers of DDS, Satheesh taught us and the world about how powerfully biodiversity and local knowledge are conserved through daily use by local communities. GRAIN joins the DDS family and many allies around the world in mourning the loss of our friend and mentor PV Satheesh. Satheesh was the founder and director of the Deccan Development Society in India. Together with the women farmers of DDS, Satheesh taught us and the world about how powerfully biodiversity and local knowledge are conserved through daily use by local communities.
The well is running dry on irrigated agriculture by GRAIN | 15 Feb 2023 Climate Groundwater depletion is not just a problem in California. It is a problem for many of the world's major irrigated agricultural areas. According to one study, the global area affected by groundwater depletion has more than doubled between 1960 and 2000 and has accelerated since then. Other researchers estimate that a third of the world's major aquifers are now at risk. Groundwater depletion is not just a problem in California. It is a problem for many of the world's major irrigated agricultural areas. According to one study, the global area affected by groundwater depletion has more than doubled between 1960 and 2000 and has accelerated since then. Other researchers estimate that a third of the world's major aquifers are now at risk.
The corporate agenda behind carbon farming by GRAIN | 10 Feb 2023 Corporations In this short video/text, GRAIN explains how giant agribusiness corporations like Bayer are rolling out carbon credit scams (a.k.a. carbon farming) to increase their power over farmers and extract more profits. In this short video/text, GRAIN explains how giant agribusiness corporations like Bayer are rolling out carbon credit scams (a.k.a. carbon farming) to increase their power over farmers and extract more profits.
GM mustard in India: Thousands of years of cultural heritage under threat by GRAIN | 1 Feb 2023 Seeds For Indians, mustard is not just an oilseed but it's part of Indian cuisine and Indian traditional medicine. The commercial release of DMH-11 doesn’t just threaten India’s mustard genetic diversity, it would also open the door to several other GM plants and crops currently under development by the public and private sectors. For Indians, mustard is not just an oilseed but it's part of Indian cuisine and Indian traditional medicine. The commercial release of DMH-11 doesn’t just threaten India’s mustard genetic diversity, it would also open the door to several other GM plants and crops currently under development by the public and private sectors.
When big tech came for the farm: A blueprint of resistance from Asia’s small farmers by GRAIN | 16 Jan 2023 Corporations A massive data capture by Big Tech in the agricultural space is unfolding in Asia. Small farmers are resisting this in various ways. A massive data capture by Big Tech in the agricultural space is unfolding in Asia. Small farmers are resisting this in various ways.