Why we oppose Golden rice by Stop Golden Rice Network | 11 Aug 2020 Small farmers and NGOs across all of Asia oppose the introduction of GMO Golden rice. However, the media, especially in the West, has mischaracterised this opposition as being based in ignorance and/or as orchestrated by Greenpeace, an NGO with Western roots. In this article, the Stop Golden Rice Network, which has members from every part of Asia, puts that record straight. Small farmers and NGOs across all of Asia oppose the introduction of GMO Golden rice. However, the media, especially in the West, has mischaracterised this opposition as being based in ignorance and/or as orchestrated by Greenpeace, an NGO with Western roots. In this article, the Stop Golden Rice Network, which has members from every part of Asia, puts that record straight.
Asian Network mounts week-long protest vs Golden Rice by Stop Golden Rice Network | 4 Aug 2020 Stop Golden Rice Network will be launching its week long activity to protest the possible commercialization of Golden Rice this week. The campaign will comprise different sets of activities per day and will conclude on August 8, the “International Day of Action Against Golden Rice.” Now in its 7th year, the said day of action is to commemorate the historic event when more than 400 farmers, urban poor, youths, and consumers uprooted Golden Rice in Pili, Camarines Sur back in 2013. Stop Golden Rice Network will be launching its week long activity to protest the possible commercialization of Golden Rice this week. The campaign will comprise different sets of activities per day and will conclude on August 8, the “International Day of Action Against Golden Rice.” Now in its 7th year, the said day of action is to commemorate the historic event when more than 400 farmers, urban poor, youths, and consumers uprooted Golden Rice in Pili, Camarines Sur back in 2013.
Why the Bill Gates global health empire promises more empire and less public health by Jeremy Loffredo and Michele Greenstein | 18 Jul 2020 Behind a veil of corporate media PR, the Gates Foundation has served as a vehicle for Western capital while exploiting the Global South as a human laboratory. The coronavirus pandemic is likely to intensify this disturbing agenda. Excellent - and disturbing - analysis of the relation between Gates, vaccines and Big Pharma. Behind a veil of corporate media PR, the Gates Foundation has served as a vehicle for Western capital while exploiting the Global South as a human laboratory. The coronavirus pandemic is likely to intensify this disturbing agenda. Excellent - and disturbing - analysis of the relation between Gates, vaccines and Big Pharma.
Agro-imperialism in the time of Covid-19 by GRAIN | 14 Jul 2020 An article about how agribusiness is profiting from the Covid-19 crisis An article about how agribusiness is profiting from the Covid-19 crisis
A journey through 30 years supporting the struggle for food sovereignty by GRAIN | 13 Jul 2020 Multimedia Come take a guided tour through 30 years of GRAIN’s history supporting the struggle for food sovereignty. Through interviews and animation, you will discover how an endeavour that initially focused mainly on seeds became the multifaceted international organisation GRAIN is today, supporting the peasant movement and the struggle for food sovereignty at large. Come take a guided tour through 30 years of GRAIN’s history supporting the struggle for food sovereignty. Through interviews and animation, you will discover how an endeavour that initially focused mainly on seeds became the multifaceted international organisation GRAIN is today, supporting the peasant movement and the struggle for food sovereignty at large.
False promises: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) by Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung and others | 10 Jul 2020 An excellent report by a number of German donors and NGOs, with groups in Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and Mali, about the disastrous impact of AGRA on African farmers. The report recommends that donors dump AGRA and fund agroecology instead An excellent report by a number of German donors and NGOs, with groups in Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and Mali, about the disastrous impact of AGRA on African farmers. The report recommends that donors dump AGRA and fund agroecology instead
World Bank's COVID-19 assistance to Kenya benefits multinational agribusiness and agrochemical firms by Frederic Mousseau and Andy Currier | 8 Jul 2020 Excellent article by the Oakland Institute about how the World Bank uses the Covid crisis to push chemical inputs onto Kenyan farmers. Excellent article by the Oakland Institute about how the World Bank uses the Covid crisis to push chemical inputs onto Kenyan farmers.
Corporate capture of seed is jeopardising farmers by Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung | 24 Jun 2020 Africa’s agriculture along with its millions of small-scale food producers is up for sale - to the highest bidders Africa’s agriculture along with its millions of small-scale food producers is up for sale - to the highest bidders
Citizens of the world oppose intellectual property over seeds, reclaim and restore local food systems and agricultural biodiversity by African Centre for Biodiversity, et al | 4 Jun 2020 Civil society organisations from across the world collectively called for a celebration of International Seed Day, and not World Intellectual Property Day. 348 organisations , from 46 countries united to condemn the unashamed greenwashing of the WIPO and their expedient promotion of UPOV draconian plant variety protection (PVP) and patents, as a driver for a green future, when the opposite is the case. Civil society organisations from across the world collectively called for a celebration of International Seed Day, and not World Intellectual Property Day. 348 organisations , from 46 countries united to condemn the unashamed greenwashing of the WIPO and their expedient promotion of UPOV draconian plant variety protection (PVP) and patents, as a driver for a green future, when the opposite is the case.
An urgent look at the food system - A collective research effort from below by GRAIN | 3 Jun 2020 Grassroots research and a lot of documentation work, has yielded an exhaustive systematisation, a detailed profile of the agro-industrial system in the Southern Cone of South America. It is the Atlas of Transgenic Agribusiness in the Southern Cone. Grassroots research and a lot of documentation work, has yielded an exhaustive systematisation, a detailed profile of the agro-industrial system in the Southern Cone of South America. It is the Atlas of Transgenic Agribusiness in the Southern Cone.
Time to turn the tide on industrial animal farming: path towards post-pandemic sustainable food systems by Global Forest Coalition and GRAIN | 27 May 2020 The implications of COVID-19 for indigenous peoples, pastoralists, women, and peasant farmers come on top of the struggles that they already face. The following stories from communities in Asia reflect the stark changes that the world is facing as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly expands. At the same time, they serve as a basis for alternative models of sustainable livestock farming and generally healthier food systems. The implications of COVID-19 for indigenous peoples, pastoralists, women, and peasant farmers come on top of the struggles that they already face. The following stories from communities in Asia reflect the stark changes that the world is facing as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly expands. At the same time, they serve as a basis for alternative models of sustainable livestock farming and generally healthier food systems.
"Business as usual" at Socfin and Bolloré... by GRAIN & other organisations | 25 May 2020 Ahead of the Socfin and Bolloré groups upcoming annual general meetings, civil society organisations and NGOs are calling to an urgent resolution and end to the conflicts and lawsuits instigated by Socfin/Bolloré. Foreign companies like Socfin extract immense profits from the lands and labour of communities in Africa and Asia. The time for "business as usual" is over, and the enrichment of directors and shareholders can no longer come before human and environmental rights. Ahead of the Socfin and Bolloré groups upcoming annual general meetings, civil society organisations and NGOs are calling to an urgent resolution and end to the conflicts and lawsuits instigated by Socfin/Bolloré. Foreign companies like Socfin extract immense profits from the lands and labour of communities in Africa and Asia. The time for "business as usual" is over, and the enrichment of directors and shareholders can no longer come before human and environmental rights.
Agribusiness must be quarantined! by GRAIN | 20 May 2020 Since the beginning of the nearly global quarantine, however, not only has agribusiness in Latin America not been in quarantine but it has actually continued functioning with total impunity, deepening its impact and harm on communities and ecosystems. In almost all the countries in the region, agro-industrial activities were exempted from quarantine, as they are considered “essential” within the measures taken. Since the beginning of the nearly global quarantine, however, not only has agribusiness in Latin America not been in quarantine but it has actually continued functioning with total impunity, deepening its impact and harm on communities and ecosystems. In almost all the countries in the region, agro-industrial activities were exempted from quarantine, as they are considered “essential” within the measures taken.
Launch of the book Atlas of GM Agribusiness in the Southern Cone by Acción por la Biodiversidad | 15 May 2020 On 18 May, the web site Biodiversidad en América Latina y el Caribe will publish the book (in Spanish) Transgenic Agribusiness in the Southern Cone: Monocultures, Resistance, and Peoples’ Proposals. The objective of the book is to analyse the impacts of the model of genetically modified (GM) crops installed in the Southern region of South America during the second half of the 1990s. On 18 May, the web site Biodiversidad en América Latina y el Caribe will publish the book (in Spanish) Transgenic Agribusiness in the Southern Cone: Monocultures, Resistance, and Peoples’ Proposals. The objective of the book is to analyse the impacts of the model of genetically modified (GM) crops installed in the Southern region of South America during the second half of the 1990s.
The dangers of legalising public land theft in Brazil : agribusiness, deforestation, and the melting pot of future pandemics by GRAIN | 30 Apr 2020 The type of land use, the concentration of land and natural resources, the massive destruction of ecosystems, and the increased homogenization of landscapes, should all be key elements considered in the debate on the current health crisis and human resilience. The type of land use, the concentration of land and natural resources, the massive destruction of ecosystems, and the increased homogenization of landscapes, should all be key elements considered in the debate on the current health crisis and human resilience.