NO to nature-based dispossessions! by Various organisations & networks from across the world | 2 Nov 2021 In a statement released today, 257 organisations, networks and movements from 61 countries say NO to “Nature-Based Solutions”, a concept that governments and corporations are peddling at the COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. The statement warns that behind the “Nature-Based Solutions” marketing front, “nature-based dispossessions” and harmful practices such as monoculture tree plantations and industrial agriculture lurk. In a statement released today, 257 organisations, networks and movements from 61 countries say NO to “Nature-Based Solutions”, a concept that governments and corporations are peddling at the COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. The statement warns that behind the “Nature-Based Solutions” marketing front, “nature-based dispossessions” and harmful practices such as monoculture tree plantations and industrial agriculture lurk.
The state of the global farmland grab, according to the Land Matrix by GRAIN | 27 Oct 2021 A new report from the Land Matrix looks at the state of today's global land grab for food & agriculture: 33 million ha handed over to international investors, up to 70% not yet in production, few communities consulted or compensated. GRAIN's take on it. A new report from the Land Matrix looks at the state of today's global land grab for food & agriculture: 33 million ha handed over to international investors, up to 70% not yet in production, few communities consulted or compensated. GRAIN's take on it.
Development banks have no business financing agribusiness by Various organisations & networks from across the world | 17 Oct 2021 On the eve of an annual gathering of public development banks in Rome, 280 groups from 70 countries have signed a letter slamming them for bankrolling the expansion of industrial agriculture, environmental destruction and corporate control of the food system. The signatories affirm only fully public and accountable funding mechanisms based on people’s actual needs can achieve real solutions to the global food crisis. On the eve of an annual gathering of public development banks in Rome, 280 groups from 70 countries have signed a letter slamming them for bankrolling the expansion of industrial agriculture, environmental destruction and corporate control of the food system. The signatories affirm only fully public and accountable funding mechanisms based on people’s actual needs can achieve real solutions to the global food crisis.
Via Campesina and allies celebrate 25 years of food sovereignty by La Via Campesina | 13 Oct 2021 Via Campesina issued a statement to celebrate the launch of food sovereignty 25 years ago and demands in this 'Manifiesto for the Future of our Planet' that it is implemented everywhere. Via Campesina issued a statement to celebrate the launch of food sovereignty 25 years ago and demands in this 'Manifiesto for the Future of our Planet' that it is implemented everywhere.
Workshop: Food Sovereignty and Digitalization of Food Systems by GRAIN & ETC Group | 7 Oct 2021 Digital agriculture is all the rage among governments and corporate agribusiness. But what does it really mean for small food producers and rural workers? This workshop will unpack the concept of “digitalization” and look at how corporations are pursuing forms of digital agriculture in different parts of the world that undermine peasant-led agroecology and food sovereignty. It will also demystify such concepts as datafication, digital land records, artificial intelligence and fintech. Finally, it will discuss how we might differentiate between useful technologies that support food sovereignty and those that don't, with a sharing of experiences from different parts of the world. Digital agriculture is all the rage among governments and corporate agribusiness. But what does it really mean for small food producers and rural workers? This workshop will unpack the concept of “digitalization” and look at how corporations are pursuing forms of digital agriculture in different parts of the world that undermine peasant-led agroecology and food sovereignty. It will also demystify such concepts as datafication, digital land records, artificial intelligence and fintech. Finally, it will discuss how we might differentiate between useful technologies that support food sovereignty and those that don't, with a sharing of experiences from different parts of the world.
Livestock and climate: the problem is the industrial system by GRAIN | 1 Oct 2021 Academics who work closely with pastoralist communities through the PASTRES research programme have issued a cry in the dark for nuance and rebalancing in the global debate about meat, dairy and climate. We want to support and echo their call, as it's crucial to get the messaging and the action right. Academics who work closely with pastoralist communities through the PASTRES research programme have issued a cry in the dark for nuance and rebalancing in the global debate about meat, dairy and climate. We want to support and echo their call, as it's crucial to get the messaging and the action right.
Keep GMOs out of Europe's fields and plates by | 30 Sep 2021 The Greens in the European Parliament are launching a sign-on campaign to stop the European Commission from allowing specific GMOs onto fields and plate in the EU. The Greens in the European Parliament are launching a sign-on campaign to stop the European Commission from allowing specific GMOs onto fields and plate in the EU.
Small farmers have the answer to feeding the world. Why isn’t the UN listening? by Elizabeth Mpofu and Henk Hobbelink | 24 Sep 2021 Via Campesina and GRAIN published this article in The Guardian on 23 September, the day that the UN Food Systems Summit was held. It explains what's wrong with the summit and why many farmers movements and NGOs have refused to participate Via Campesina and GRAIN published this article in The Guardian on 23 September, the day that the UN Food Systems Summit was held. It explains what's wrong with the summit and why many farmers movements and NGOs have refused to participate
The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal accepts accusation over Brazilian Cerrado ecocide by GRAIN | 20 Sep 2021 As one of the organisations involved in the Campaign in Defence of the Cerrado, GRAIN invites everyone to discover the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal session on the Cerrado region. This ecocide is a result of the intense expansion of the agricultural border over the last half-century in this immense region, which covers almost one third of the territory of Brazil. As one of the organisations involved in the Campaign in Defence of the Cerrado, GRAIN invites everyone to discover the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal session on the Cerrado region. This ecocide is a result of the intense expansion of the agricultural border over the last half-century in this immense region, which covers almost one third of the territory of Brazil.
Golden Rice & GM wheat: the corporate lobby's last-ditch attempts to impose GMOs by GRAIN | 17 Sep 2021 Behind these GMOs lies a key strategic issue for corporate power: rice and wheat are crops which have not yet been fully colonised by the corporate seed industry. GMOs are essential for agribusiness to be able to take control of the seed markets for these crops, because corporations have not managed to roll out hybrids on a large scale. Behind these GMOs lies a key strategic issue for corporate power: rice and wheat are crops which have not yet been fully colonised by the corporate seed industry. GMOs are essential for agribusiness to be able to take control of the seed markets for these crops, because corporations have not managed to roll out hybrids on a large scale.
GRAIN rejects the UN Food Systems Summit - and shuts down in protest by GRAIN | 17 Sep 2021 As our own form of protest against this dangerous summit, GRAIN will shut down its website and social media platforms that day. We need real solutions to overcome the global food crisis -- based on the needs of small-scale farmers, fisherfolk, pastoralists and indigenous people – and to move us towards food sovereignty. As our own form of protest against this dangerous summit, GRAIN will shut down its website and social media platforms that day. We need real solutions to overcome the global food crisis -- based on the needs of small-scale farmers, fisherfolk, pastoralists and indigenous people – and to move us towards food sovereignty.
Global week of action against UPOV by NO to UPOV alliance | 6 Aug 2021 On UPOV’s 60th birthday, on 2 December 2021, we want to say NO TO UPOV! During that entire week, networks and social movements across the world will be calling for the dismantlement of UPOV, drawing attention to its role in privatising seeds and threat to food sovereignty. On UPOV’s 60th birthday, on 2 December 2021, we want to say NO TO UPOV! During that entire week, networks and social movements across the world will be calling for the dismantlement of UPOV, drawing attention to its role in privatising seeds and threat to food sovereignty.
African faith communities tell Gates Foundation, “Big farming is no solution for Africa” by SAFCEI (Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute) | 4 Aug 2021 Following the United Nations (UN) Food Systems Pre-Summit in Rome last week – a prequel to the Head of State-level Summit in New York, this September – faith communities from across Africa continue to call attention to the wide range of far-reaching consequences of current industrial agricultural models. Following the United Nations (UN) Food Systems Pre-Summit in Rome last week – a prequel to the Head of State-level Summit in New York, this September – faith communities from across Africa continue to call attention to the wide range of far-reaching consequences of current industrial agricultural models.
Golden rice in the Philippines: hurried approval raises questions by Farida Akhter and Afsar Jafri | 29 Jul 2021 The controversial genetically modified Golden rice, has surfaced again with the Philippines Rice Research Institute rushing through the commercial clearance despite popular opposition to GR not only in the Philippines but also in Bangladesh, Indonesia and India. In the Philippines, the Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, issued the Biosafety permit for commercial propagation of the genetically engineered golden rice on 21 July 2021. The controversial genetically modified Golden rice, has surfaced again with the Philippines Rice Research Institute rushing through the commercial clearance despite popular opposition to GR not only in the Philippines but also in Bangladesh, Indonesia and India. In the Philippines, the Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, issued the Biosafety permit for commercial propagation of the genetically engineered golden rice on 21 July 2021.
Trade agreements privatising biodiversity by GRAIN | 14 Jul 2021 For the past 30 years, industrialised countries have been forcing governments of the global South to adopt laws that privatise seeds so that farmers have to pay for them and keep seed companies afloat. They do this mainly through FTAs. This dataset zooms in on how countries are being forced to privatise seeds beyond the WTO. For the past 30 years, industrialised countries have been forcing governments of the global South to adopt laws that privatise seeds so that farmers have to pay for them and keep seed companies afloat. They do this mainly through FTAs. This dataset zooms in on how countries are being forced to privatise seeds beyond the WTO.