No to GM wheat! Global alliance seeks UN intervention against GM Wheat HB4 cultivation by Several groups | 30 Jan 2024 Seeds Food sovereignty alliance from Latin America, Africa, and Asia approach seven UN Special Rapporteurs for urgent intervention to block cultivation and trade of GM wheat HB4 Food sovereignty alliance from Latin America, Africa, and Asia approach seven UN Special Rapporteurs for urgent intervention to block cultivation and trade of GM wheat HB4
The 8th conference of La Via Campesina: A call for inclusion of women, youth, diversity, struggles against patriarchy, solidarity and the recognition of peasants' rights by GRAIN | 18 Dec 2023 The 8th conference of La Via Campesina was held in Bogotá, from 1 to 8 December 2023, under the slogan: "Faced with global crises, we build food sovereignty to ensure a future for humanity". The 8th conference of La Via Campesina was held in Bogotá, from 1 to 8 December 2023, under the slogan: "Faced with global crises, we build food sovereignty to ensure a future for humanity".
Bolivia: yet another testing ground for GMOs? by GRAIN | 14 Dec 2023 Seeds The climate crisis is both a consequence and a cause of the expansion of agriculture and deforestation. Promoting more GM crops such as HB4 wheat in Bolivia as a response to drought is like trying to extinguish a blaze by adding fuel to the fire. The climate crisis is both a consequence and a cause of the expansion of agriculture and deforestation. Promoting more GM crops such as HB4 wheat in Bolivia as a response to drought is like trying to extinguish a blaze by adding fuel to the fire.
A call for civil disobedience against the privatisation of peasant seeds by Several groups | 11 Dec 2023 Seeds We are determined to resist the dispossession of seeds from the hands of the people. We vigorously oppose registration, certification, patenting and marketing schemes, treaties, conventions, national and international laws and legal frameworks such as UPOV and other seed laws that promote the dispossession of the common goods and knowledge of our peoples. We are determined to resist the dispossession of seeds from the hands of the people. We vigorously oppose registration, certification, patenting and marketing schemes, treaties, conventions, national and international laws and legal frameworks such as UPOV and other seed laws that promote the dispossession of the common goods and knowledge of our peoples.
Let's bury false solutions at COP28 by GRAIN | 8 Dec 2023 Climate Everyone is now saying that Africa is the place where climate crisis solutions can be found. Forests, land and other resources are therefore targeted by multiple “grabbers” working in the interests of profit and the convenience of capitalism. Let’s take a look together at the Top 5 of their false solutions: Everyone is now saying that Africa is the place where climate crisis solutions can be found. Forests, land and other resources are therefore targeted by multiple “grabbers” working in the interests of profit and the convenience of capitalism. Let’s take a look together at the Top 5 of their false solutions:
Stop carbon offsetting now! by Several groups | 4 Dec 2023 Climate Carbon offsetting has undermined real climate action, given rise to human rights and Indigenous rights violations and caused severe harm to frontline communities for over two decades. Despite this, the UN climate conference (COP28) currently underway in the United Arab Emirates is set to be one of the biggest promotional events for carbon offsets ever. Carbon offsetting has undermined real climate action, given rise to human rights and Indigenous rights violations and caused severe harm to frontline communities for over two decades. Despite this, the UN climate conference (COP28) currently underway in the United Arab Emirates is set to be one of the biggest promotional events for carbon offsets ever.
Regenerative agriculture was a good idea, until corporations got hold of it by GRAIN | 1 Dec 2023 Climate This year's COP28 will showcase regenerative agriculture prominently, and the term is gaining traction in policy circles, investor conferences and supermarket shelves. But it is just the latest iteration of an on-going corporate strategy to undercut support for agroecology and shore up corporate profits amid multiple crises caused by the model of industrial agriculture they depend on. This year's COP28 will showcase regenerative agriculture prominently, and the term is gaining traction in policy circles, investor conferences and supermarket shelves. But it is just the latest iteration of an on-going corporate strategy to undercut support for agroecology and shore up corporate profits amid multiple crises caused by the model of industrial agriculture they depend on.
Agrarian reform and land tenure in Colombia by Fabián Pachón (Fensuagro) y GRAIN | 30 Nov 2023 Land Land tenure is a fundamental issue in every country and Colombia is no exception. The way in which land ownership has been historically regulated and managed has a profound impact on the country's economy and the different ways of leading a dignified life in the various territories. Land tenure is a fundamental issue in every country and Colombia is no exception. The way in which land ownership has been historically regulated and managed has a profound impact on the country's economy and the different ways of leading a dignified life in the various territories.
India’s oil palm grand plan: at what cost? by GRAIN | 30 Nov 2023 Land India is currently experiencing a major transformation in its oilseed sector, marked by ambitious plans to expand the cultivation of African oil palm. Yet this grand plan casts a shadow over the nation’s diverse oilseed crops, sounding alarms bells for farmers, public health and the environment. India is currently experiencing a major transformation in its oilseed sector, marked by ambitious plans to expand the cultivation of African oil palm. Yet this grand plan casts a shadow over the nation’s diverse oilseed crops, sounding alarms bells for farmers, public health and the environment.
The Palestinian people have a right to their lives, land and sovereignty by GRAIN | 27 Oct 2023 Land Since decades, one of the many dimensions of Israel’s colonial project has been the destruction of Palestinian agriculture and fishing. Prior to October 2023, 35% of Gaza’s farmland lay within an “access restricted area” on the border with Israel. As a result, 113,000 farmers lost access to their lands located in this area. Since decades, one of the many dimensions of Israel’s colonial project has been the destruction of Palestinian agriculture and fishing. Prior to October 2023, 35% of Gaza’s farmland lay within an “access restricted area” on the border with Israel. As a result, 113,000 farmers lost access to their lands located in this area.
AfCFTA: More free trade? For whose benefit? by bilaterals.org & GRAIN | 24 Oct 2023 Corporations The AfCFTA pushes a model of “development” hinged on increased trade and investment under the guise of pan-Africanism. However, it is “more of the same” trade rules that we see under the WTO and bilateral agreements. Therefore, it will likely only benefit African elites and transnational capital, at the expense of local communities. The AfCFTA pushes a model of “development” hinged on increased trade and investment under the guise of pan-Africanism. However, it is “more of the same” trade rules that we see under the WTO and bilateral agreements. Therefore, it will likely only benefit African elites and transnational capital, at the expense of local communities.
San Isidro vs Amway by GRAIN | 17 Oct 2023 Land A Mexican ejido community, faced a protracted land dispute involving the illegal acquisition of 280 hectares by the US company Amway-Nutrilite. After an 80-year struggle, the Mexican government recognized the land as part of the ejido, but Amway returned only 120 hectares, leading to ongoing legal battles and community efforts to regain control of their territory. A Mexican ejido community, faced a protracted land dispute involving the illegal acquisition of 280 hectares by the US company Amway-Nutrilite. After an 80-year struggle, the Mexican government recognized the land as part of the ejido, but Amway returned only 120 hectares, leading to ongoing legal battles and community efforts to regain control of their territory.
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