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.
Mónica Vargas Collazos of GRAIN on Israeli state backed agribusiness colonialism in Africa by Stefan Christoff | 29 Dec 2022 Corporations Stefan Christoff of Free City Radio (Montreal) interviews Mónica Vargas Collazos of GRAIN on Israeli state backed agribusiness colonialism in the global south. Stefan Christoff of Free City Radio (Montreal) interviews Mónica Vargas Collazos of GRAIN on Israeli state backed agribusiness colonialism in the global south.
The Brazilian state and agri-food corporations are condemned for ecocide of the Cerrado and genocide of its peoples by GRAIN | 21 Dec 2022 Land The ecocide being perpetrated against the Cerrado and the genocide of the Cerrado peoples are taking place in the context of the most persistent war of our time - and the most difficult to win - which is not between nation states. Rather, it is being waged against nature and the ‘peoples of nature’ by large corporations and the people who run them: the dominant minority, referred to as the “commodities people” by the great Yanomami shaman, Davi Kopenawa. This war is much harder to fight because warlords hide behind the names of conglomerates designed to erase their fingerprints and gain legitimacy day after day by the repetition on the stock exchange trading floors of something intangible called "the market". The ecocide being perpetrated against the Cerrado and the genocide of the Cerrado peoples are taking place in the context of the most persistent war of our time - and the most difficult to win - which is not between nation states. Rather, it is being waged against nature and the ‘peoples of nature’ by large corporations and the people who run them: the dominant minority, referred to as the “commodities people” by the great Yanomami shaman, Davi Kopenawa. This war is much harder to fight because warlords hide behind the names of conglomerates designed to erase their fingerprints and gain legitimacy day after day by the repetition on the stock exchange trading floors of something intangible called "the market".
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil: 19 years is enough by Several groups | 30 Nov 2022 Corporations We, and other organisations working with communities affected by industrial oil palm plantations, have repeatedly denounced the RSPO for its failure to address the grievances of communities whose lands were taken by palm oil companies. The fundamental problems with the institution and its certification scheme are described in detail in international statements signed by organisations from around the world in 2008 and in 2018, and recently in reports published in 2021 on the failure of RSPO to prevent deforestation, consult affected communities and address their grievances. We, and other organisations working with communities affected by industrial oil palm plantations, have repeatedly denounced the RSPO for its failure to address the grievances of communities whose lands were taken by palm oil companies. The fundamental problems with the institution and its certification scheme are described in detail in international statements signed by organisations from around the world in 2008 and in 2018, and recently in reports published in 2021 on the failure of RSPO to prevent deforestation, consult affected communities and address their grievances.
Who profits under UPOV? by GRAIN | 28 Nov 2022 Seeds | Multimedia As UPOV has expanded, the global seed market has been taken over by a cartel of agrochemical companies. Today, just four of these companies control half of the US$47 billion seed market. They also control 75% of the global agrochemicals market. This is not a coincidence. As UPOV has expanded, the global seed market has been taken over by a cartel of agrochemical companies. Today, just four of these companies control half of the US$47 billion seed market. They also control 75% of the global agrochemicals market. This is not a coincidence.
Purchasing land in Niger for carbon credits: the new form of greenwashing sweeping Africa by GRAIN | 16 Nov 2022 Climate With COP 27 in full swing in Egypt, and all eyes once again on this climate conference – rapidly becoming the great carnival of promises that will never be kept - one question is surely haunting many Nigeriens: will the sale of carbon credits provide any benefit for communities and the climate? With COP 27 in full swing in Egypt, and all eyes once again on this climate conference – rapidly becoming the great carnival of promises that will never be kept - one question is surely haunting many Nigeriens: will the sale of carbon credits provide any benefit for communities and the climate?
From Asia to Africa: Tentacles of oil palm plantations are squeezing communities dry by GRAIN and KRuHA | 15 Sep 2022 There is no other crop that has grown faster globally in the last decade than palm oil. This almost uncontrollable expansion leaves a deep trail of destruction and conflicts around its giant areas of plantations from Southeast Asia to West and Central Africa. As companies take over more community land, they also grab the water sources from them. There is no other crop that has grown faster globally in the last decade than palm oil. This almost uncontrollable expansion leaves a deep trail of destruction and conflicts around its giant areas of plantations from Southeast Asia to West and Central Africa. As companies take over more community land, they also grab the water sources from them.
We need a movement to take pensions out of financial markets by GRAIN, A Growing Culture and Kevin Skerrett | 2 Sep 2022 Corporations Conversations held with activists from around the world in May and June webinars of 2022 make clear the need for a movement to take pensions out of financial markets. Conversations held with activists from around the world in May and June webinars of 2022 make clear the need for a movement to take pensions out of financial markets.
A fertiliser cartel holds the global food system hostage by GRAIN | 1 Sep 2022 Corporations A new report from INKOTA shows how fertiliser companies squeeze excess profits from the food system and how we have to end the policies and programmes – like AGRA in Africa – that are behind them A new report from INKOTA shows how fertiliser companies squeeze excess profits from the food system and how we have to end the policies and programmes – like AGRA in Africa – that are behind them
Declaration of the Informal Alliance against Industrial Plantations in West and Central Africa by Informal Alliance against Industrial Plantations in West and Central Africa | 9 Aug 2022 STOP LAND GRABS FOR MONOCULTURE PLANTATIONS IN AFRICA AND THE WORLD! STOP LAND GRABS FOR MONOCULTURE PLANTATIONS IN AFRICA AND THE WORLD!
Golden Rice and the push for GMOs won’t solve food crisis, it will make it worse by Stop Golden Rice Network | 8 Aug 2022 Seeds The commercialisation of Golden Rice and the promotion and de-regulation of GMOs, including gene-edited crops, during a period of intense food crisis threatens to exacerbate inequality and contribute further to the loss of people’s food sovereignty – one of the main reasons why hundreds of millions remain food insecure today The commercialisation of Golden Rice and the promotion and de-regulation of GMOs, including gene-edited crops, during a period of intense food crisis threatens to exacerbate inequality and contribute further to the loss of people’s food sovereignty – one of the main reasons why hundreds of millions remain food insecure today
Funding industrial agriculture vs agroecology: Not a simple binary by GRAIN | 4 Aug 2022 Corporations It's often said that we need to "shift funding" from industrial agriculture to agroecology in order to advance food sovereignty. While it’s true that we need to resource and strengthen agroecology, the idea that it’s matter of moving money around, or pointing institutions in a different direction, is not as straightforward as it sounds. It's often said that we need to "shift funding" from industrial agriculture to agroecology in order to advance food sovereignty. While it’s true that we need to resource and strengthen agroecology, the idea that it’s matter of moving money around, or pointing institutions in a different direction, is not as straightforward as it sounds.
Bolloré case: associations' victory in the Cameroonian palm oil case confirmed by Several groups | 10 Jun 2022 Media releases The legal battle initiated by the associations to force Bolloré to remedy the human rights violations denounced in the context of the activities of the Cameroonian subsidiary Socapalm is still ongoing. The appeal judge once again ruled in favour of the associations: one more step for the victims. The legal battle initiated by the associations to force Bolloré to remedy the human rights violations denounced in the context of the activities of the Cameroonian subsidiary Socapalm is still ongoing. The appeal judge once again ruled in favour of the associations: one more step for the victims.
Ten reasons why certification should not be promoted in the EU anti-deforestation regulation by Milieudefensie/Collective | 3 Jun 2022 After careful analysis of the draft legislation, available evidence and our hands-on experience with the effects of certification schemes of soy, palm oil and timber on the ground, we discern 10 arguments as to why certification should not be promoted in the EU anti deforestation regulation. After careful analysis of the draft legislation, available evidence and our hands-on experience with the effects of certification schemes of soy, palm oil and timber on the ground, we discern 10 arguments as to why certification should not be promoted in the EU anti deforestation regulation.
It’s Africa vs African Union by GRAIN | 19 May 2022 Seeds Under a cloud of secrecy and haste, guidelines are set at AU to promote agrarian extractivism at the expense of food and seed sovereignty of an entire continent. They also situate farmers’ rights and farmer managed seed systems within a corporate seed environment and agenda. Processes like these at the AU provide a basis and affect other guidelines and seed regulatory frameworks at the continental and national processes. Under a cloud of secrecy and haste, guidelines are set at AU to promote agrarian extractivism at the expense of food and seed sovereignty of an entire continent. They also situate farmers’ rights and farmer managed seed systems within a corporate seed environment and agenda. Processes like these at the AU provide a basis and affect other guidelines and seed regulatory frameworks at the continental and national processes.