"We are not landowners," Cargill CEO tells BBC by GRAIN | 3 Oct 2011 India | land grabbing | corporations ....but the company's hedge fund has 50,000 hectares of land in South America and is spending $400 million on factory dairy farms in Asia. ....but the company's hedge fund has 50,000 hectares of land in South America and is spending $400 million on factory dairy farms in Asia.
China scrambles against mutant bird flu by Marwaan Macan-Markar, IPS | 26 Sep 2011 China | Viet Nam | food safety Detection of a "mutant strain" of the deadly virus among poultry in China and Vietnam has proved existing vaccines ineffective. Detection of a "mutant strain" of the deadly virus among poultry in China and Vietnam has proved existing vaccines ineffective.
UN special rapporteur on the right to food calls for a new Green Revolution based on agroecology by Olivier De Schutter and Gaëtan Vanloqueren | 20 Sep 2011 food crisis | climate crisis The combined effects of climate change, energy scarcity, and water paucity require that we radically rethink our agricultural systems. Countries can and must reorient their agricultural systems toward modes of production that are not only highly productive, but also highly sustainable. The combined effects of climate change, energy scarcity, and water paucity require that we radically rethink our agricultural systems. Countries can and must reorient their agricultural systems toward modes of production that are not only highly productive, but also highly sustainable.
US company looking to farm rice in Nigeria and Tanzania left trail of devastation in Kenya by Transient Pictures | 7 Sep 2011 Kenya | land grabbing The people living on the lands now being targetted by US-owned Dominion Farms can learn a lot from the film Good Fortune, which provides a behind-the-scenes account of the struggle of a local community in Kenya to defend their lands from this company. Here are a few clips from the film. The people living on the lands now being targetted by US-owned Dominion Farms can learn a lot from the film Good Fortune, which provides a behind-the-scenes account of the struggle of a local community in Kenya to defend their lands from this company. Here are a few clips from the film.
Syngenta draws on funds from the Indian government to promote its hybrid rice seeds and pesticides by | 29 Aug 2011 hybrid rice | India An article in domain-b is reporting that the Swiss seeds and pesticide giant Syngenta will be drawing on funds from the Indian government for the promotion of its hybrid rice seeds and pesticides. An article in domain-b is reporting that the Swiss seeds and pesticide giant Syngenta will be drawing on funds from the Indian government for the promotion of its hybrid rice seeds and pesticides.
Declaraction of Nyeleni Europe 2011 by | 22 Aug 2011 food sovereignty | actions Collective statement produced by the 400 participants of the European Forum for Food Sovereignty, held in Krems, Austria, from 16 to 21 August 2011. Collective statement produced by the 400 participants of the European Forum for Food Sovereignty, held in Krems, Austria, from 16 to 21 August 2011.
India’s role in the new global farmland grab by Rick Rowden | 19 Aug 2011 India New report by Rick Rowden provides a detailed examination of the role of the Indian government and Indian companies engaged in overseas agricultural land acquisitions in Africa, Asia and Latin America. New report by Rick Rowden provides a detailed examination of the role of the Indian government and Indian companies engaged in overseas agricultural land acquisitions in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Nigerian farmer leader talks about resistance to land grabs by GRAIN | 11 Aug 2011 Interview with Olaseinde Makanjuola Arigbede of the United Small and Medium scale Farmers' Associations of Nigeria (USMEFAN) Interview with Olaseinde Makanjuola Arigbede of the United Small and Medium scale Farmers' Associations of Nigeria (USMEFAN)
The authoritarian face of the “Green Revolution”: Rwanda capitulates to agribusiness by Manuel Milz | 8 Aug 2011 technologies Researcher Manuel Milz takes an in-depth look at the “green revolution” programme that the Government of Rwanda launched in 2007. Milz finds that the programme's coercive transformation of agriculture has failed to improve the lives of the vast majority of the country's peasants, while dramatically increasing the use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers. Researcher Manuel Milz takes an in-depth look at the “green revolution” programme that the Government of Rwanda launched in 2007. Milz finds that the programme's coercive transformation of agriculture has failed to improve the lives of the vast majority of the country's peasants, while dramatically increasing the use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers.
Cargill recalls 36 million pounds of contaminated ground meat in the US after one person dies and at least 80 others badly sickened by IBTimes | 5 Aug 2011 corporations Cargill and US government regulators became aware of the contamination at least five months ago. Cargill and US government regulators became aware of the contamination at least five months ago.
Speculation drove wheat prices up while supply expanded by The Real News Network | 22 Jul 2011 food crisis | corporations Jayati Ghosh on how speculation, concentration of ownership and hoarding creates food price bubbles Jayati Ghosh on how speculation, concentration of ownership and hoarding creates food price bubbles
Native seeds in danger of being monopolised by Pamela Sepulveda | 18 Jul 2011 Chile | seeds & biodiversity Chile recently ratified a treaty that could threaten biodiversity and endanger the rights of small farmers, critics say. Chile recently ratified a treaty that could threaten biodiversity and endanger the rights of small farmers, critics say.
Seeds and farmers' rights: how international regulations affect farmer seeds by BEDE/RSP | 12 Jul 2011 seeds & biodiversity A new dossier for debate published by BEDE (Biodiversity Exchange and Diffusion of Experiences) and RSP (the French Peasant Seeds Network) A new dossier for debate published by BEDE (Biodiversity Exchange and Diffusion of Experiences) and RSP (the French Peasant Seeds Network)
World Bank told to stop lending to land grabbers by | 10 Jul 2011 actions | land grabbing The World Bank is considering a loan of up US$30 million to help Calyx Agro expand its operations in Latin America. An open letter denounces the Bank for its on-going support to other leading investors involved in land grabbing around the world. The World Bank is considering a loan of up US$30 million to help Calyx Agro expand its operations in Latin America. An open letter denounces the Bank for its on-going support to other leading investors involved in land grabbing around the world.
On Bill Gates, trains and fertilizers by Brewster Kneen | 8 Jul 2011 Canada | corporations A brilliant comment by Brewster Kneen in the Rams Horm on how Bill Gates makes money from increased fertilizer use by investing in trains. A brilliant comment by Brewster Kneen in the Rams Horm on how Bill Gates makes money from increased fertilizer use by investing in trains.