Cargill's profits quadruple as world food crisis deepens by GRAIN | 11 Oct 2012 corporations The world's largest grain trader made US$1 billion in profits from June to August, as people across the world struggled with rising prices for grains. The world's largest grain trader made US$1 billion in profits from June to August, as people across the world struggled with rising prices for grains.
Nyéléni newsletter # 11 - Food and Cities by Organisations of the Food Sovereignty Movement | 9 Oct 2012 land grabbing | food crisis | food sovereignty | food safety Nearly a quarter of the world’s fresh food is supplied by approximately one billion people who produce fruits and vegetables on urban and peri-urban farms and gardens. While most of this food is consumed by the producers themselves, a substantial part goes directly into urban markets at affordable prices. Given that over half of the world’s economically poor population now live in cities, and given the dangerous volatility of global food markets, this locally-produced food is becoming increasingly important to urban food security. Nearly a quarter of the world’s fresh food is supplied by approximately one billion people who produce fruits and vegetables on urban and peri-urban farms and gardens. While most of this food is consumed by the producers themselves, a substantial part goes directly into urban markets at affordable prices. Given that over half of the world’s economically poor population now live in cities, and given the dangerous volatility of global food markets, this locally-produced food is becoming increasingly important to urban food security.
Mauritania: Foreign subsidies sour domestic milk industry by IRIN | 1 Oct 2012 Mauritania | food sovereignty Dairy farmers and pastoralists struggle as Mauritanian market is flooded with cheap milk products imported from Europe. Dairy farmers and pastoralists struggle as Mauritanian market is flooded with cheap milk products imported from Europe.
Move toward new Pan-African IP organisation alarms observers by William New | 28 Sep 2012 seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies A seemingly remote African Union proposal to create a Pan-African Intellectual Property Organization appears to have gained momentum and will come before African science and technology ministers for review in early November, according to sources. A copy of the final draft statutes shows how the new body would operate, and for some observers, how it would elevate African IP standards well above current levels, with “disastrous consequences” for access, development, and human rights. A seemingly remote African Union proposal to create a Pan-African Intellectual Property Organization appears to have gained momentum and will come before African science and technology ministers for review in early November, according to sources. A copy of the final draft statutes shows how the new body would operate, and for some observers, how it would elevate African IP standards well above current levels, with “disastrous consequences” for access, development, and human rights.
Statement on AGRA by | 27 Sep 2012 technologies Twenty-eight African organisations issue statement denouncing the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) for imposing a corporate-controlled seed and chemical system of agriculture on smallholder farmers. Twenty-eight African organisations issue statement denouncing the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) for imposing a corporate-controlled seed and chemical system of agriculture on smallholder farmers.
Cereal secrets: The world's largest grain traders and global agriculture by Oxfam | 27 Aug 2012 corporations Oxfam recently put out a new report on the world's largest grain traders, the so-called ABCD firms, that provides a detailed overview of their activies, including the speculation that these companies are increasinlgy involved in. Oxfam recently put out a new report on the world's largest grain traders, the so-called ABCD firms, that provides a detailed overview of their activies, including the speculation that these companies are increasinlgy involved in.
Chinese government hires CP Group for US$4 billion project to set up factory farms in China by GRAIN | 23 Aug 2012 China | Thailand | corporations The Nation is reporting that Chia Tai, the Chinese arm of Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group, will manage a US$4 billion project to set up 13 industrial pig, poultry and shrimp farming projects in several Chinese provinces. The Nation is reporting that Chia Tai, the Chinese arm of Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group, will manage a US$4 billion project to set up 13 industrial pig, poultry and shrimp farming projects in several Chinese provinces.
GRAIN external evaluation 2012 by GRAIN | 1 Aug 2012 Between April and June 2012, GRAIN underwent its latest external evaluation. This evaluation focused on GRAIN's work on land grabbing, over the period 2008-2011. The executive summary and recommendations are now available online. Between April and June 2012, GRAIN underwent its latest external evaluation. This evaluation focused on GRAIN's work on land grabbing, over the period 2008-2011. The executive summary and recommendations are now available online.
When CP came to the village: An interview with Wirat Phromson of Thailand's Northern Peasants' Federation by GRAIN | 30 Jul 2012 Thailand | corporations Wirat Phromson, a farmer from Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, talks about his village's experience with contract farming for Thailand's biggest meat company, Charoen Pokphand. Wirat Phromson, a farmer from Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, talks about his village's experience with contract farming for Thailand's biggest meat company, Charoen Pokphand.
Geopolitics of drought by Ian Masters | 24 Jul 2012 corporations | food crisis | food sovereignty Ian Masters interviews Eric Holt-Giménez about the current drought affecting numerous grain-producing countries and its potential impacts Ian Masters interviews Eric Holt-Giménez about the current drought affecting numerous grain-producing countries and its potential impacts
The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse - G8 corporate power by Glenn Ashton | 28 Jun 2012 corporations A Faustian bargain was made at the June 2012 G8 meeting by US President Obama. Instead of delivering on commitments, he changed tack and roped in a $3 billion "pledge of corporate assistance" for African agriculture. A Faustian bargain was made at the June 2012 G8 meeting by US President Obama. Instead of delivering on commitments, he changed tack and roped in a $3 billion "pledge of corporate assistance" for African agriculture.
Land grabbing by pension funds and other financial institutions must be stopped by GRAIN | 26 Jun 2012 land grabbing | corporations | food sovereignty A statement signed by over 60 environmental, development and farming groups calls for pension funds and other financial institutions to stop land grabbing. A statement signed by over 60 environmental, development and farming groups calls for pension funds and other financial institutions to stop land grabbing.
Carbon trading and REDD+ in Mozambique: farmers ‘grow’ carbon for the benefit of polluters by Via Campesina Africa | 20 Jun 2012 Mozambique | corporations | climate crisis | food sovereignty With the Rio+20 conference about to open, we would like to share with you a real life story from Mozambique on the problems that rural communities get themselves into with carbon trading projects. When farmers start growing carbon instead of food. Written and documented by Via Campsina Africa. With the Rio+20 conference about to open, we would like to share with you a real life story from Mozambique on the problems that rural communities get themselves into with carbon trading projects. When farmers start growing carbon instead of food. Written and documented by Via Campsina Africa.
Mexican rural organisations block Monsanto law to privatize seeds and plants by occupymonsanto360.org | 14 Jun 2012 Mexico | seeds and biodiversity | intellectual property rights | food sovereignty Progressive small farmer organizations in Mexico scored a victory over transnational corporations that seek to monopolize seed and food patents. When the corporations pushed their bill to modify the Federal Law on Plant Varieties through the Committee on Agriculture and Livestock of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies on March 14, organizations of farmers from across the country sounded the alarm. By organizing quickly, they joined together to pressure legislators and achieved an agreement with the legislative committee to remove the bill from the floor. Progressive small farmer organizations in Mexico scored a victory over transnational corporations that seek to monopolize seed and food patents. When the corporations pushed their bill to modify the Federal Law on Plant Varieties through the Committee on Agriculture and Livestock of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies on March 14, organizations of farmers from across the country sounded the alarm. By organizing quickly, they joined together to pressure legislators and achieved an agreement with the legislative committee to remove the bill from the floor.
The reasons of maize by Red en Defensa del Maíz, GRAIN, ETC Group, Vía Campesina North America, el Colectivo Oaxaqueño en Defensa de los Territorios, and more than a thousand communities that appeal to the Peoples Permanent Tribunal-Mexico | 14 Jun 2012 Mexico | food sovereignty | seeds and biodiversity Being Mexico the centre of origin of maize, one of the four most crucial crops for humanity, any attack on maize and to the peoples that grow it are attacks against the oldest and most potential strategies of humanity. This is a powerful and beautiful text, presented on October 21st in front of the peoples permanent Tribunal that will session in Mexico from now to 2014. Being Mexico the centre of origin of maize, one of the four most crucial crops for humanity, any attack on maize and to the peoples that grow it are attacks against the oldest and most potential strategies of humanity. This is a powerful and beautiful text, presented on October 21st in front of the peoples permanent Tribunal that will session in Mexico from now to 2014.