Interview: Perspectives on supermarkets in the North and South by OXFAM Belgium | 26 Mar 2019 Does the steamroller effect of supermarkets have the same impacts in the Northern and Southern hemispheres of the planet? How does this model attempt to reinvent itself? What are the consequences for local farming? This is what we wanted to know with this interview between Yuna Chiffoleau, research director at the National Institute of Agronomic Research - INRA, France, and Ange-David Baïmey, coordinator of the NGO GRAIN in Africa. Does the steamroller effect of supermarkets have the same impacts in the Northern and Southern hemispheres of the planet? How does this model attempt to reinvent itself? What are the consequences for local farming? This is what we wanted to know with this interview between Yuna Chiffoleau, research director at the National Institute of Agronomic Research - INRA, France, and Ange-David Baïmey, coordinator of the NGO GRAIN in Africa.
Educating FAO: an urgent need! by WRM | 19 Mar 2019 The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), chose "Forests and Education" as the theme for the 2019 International Day of Forests. But what does FAO mean by “forest education”? A great campaign with action materials launched by the World Rainforest movement The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), chose "Forests and Education" as the theme for the 2019 International Day of Forests. But what does FAO mean by “forest education”? A great campaign with action materials launched by the World Rainforest movement
Saving Japan’s seed heritage from “free trade” by Anja Lyngbaek | 11 Mar 2019 Great story of a former Minister of agriculture, now fighting for seed sovereignty in Japan Great story of a former Minister of agriculture, now fighting for seed sovereignty in Japan
Women’s role in traditional markets faces the challenge of modern retail by Suci Fitriah Tanjung | 8 Mar 2019 On International Women's Day, we share the reflections of Suci Fitriah Tanjung, of the NGO Solidaritas Perempuan. In her blog post, she describes the important role of women in Indonesia's traditional markets and the challenges they face from the expansion of modern retail. On International Women's Day, we share the reflections of Suci Fitriah Tanjung, of the NGO Solidaritas Perempuan. In her blog post, she describes the important role of women in Indonesia's traditional markets and the challenges they face from the expansion of modern retail.
Defamatory vs defamation by GRAIN | 6 Mar 2019 Over the past few years, GRAIN and other groups have been drawn into a serious of legal actions to defend the rights of people – journalists, rural communities, researchers, NGO workers and unionists – to talk about what they see and experience as land grabbing and other abuses committed not only by multinational corporations in the agribusiness arena, but government authorities and local elites as well. Over the past few years, GRAIN and other groups have been drawn into a serious of legal actions to defend the rights of people – journalists, rural communities, researchers, NGO workers and unionists – to talk about what they see and experience as land grabbing and other abuses committed not only by multinational corporations in the agribusiness arena, but government authorities and local elites as well.
Big ag eyes big aquaculture by Food&power | 4 Mar 2019 Interesting article on how the big food traders and processors are buying themselves into the aquaculture business. Interesting article on how the big food traders and processors are buying themselves into the aquaculture business.
Malen women cry for help by Aminata Finda Massaquoi, Culture Radio | 28 Feb 2019 SOCFIN, a multinational agribusiness company, arrived in Sahn Malen Chiefdom, Pujehun district, Southern Sierra Leone in 2011 to embark on a large-scale investment in palm oil production for the European market. SOCFIN, a multinational agribusiness company, arrived in Sahn Malen Chiefdom, Pujehun district, Southern Sierra Leone in 2011 to embark on a large-scale investment in palm oil production for the European market.
Land grabbing for palm oil in Sierra Leone by FIAN Belgium | 21 Feb 2019 Sierra Leone | land grabbing Since the arrival of multinational agribusiness company SOCFIN in 2011 as part of a large-scale investment in palm oil in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, social conflict has raged in the Malen Chiefdom. SOCFIN is controlled by a Belgian businessman (Hubert Fabri) and the French group Bolloré, which has developed a business empire in many parts of Africa. FIAN Belgium publishes a new report "Land Grabbing for Palm Oil in Sierra Leone : Analysis of the SOCFIN Case from a Human Rights Perspective". Since the arrival of multinational agribusiness company SOCFIN in 2011 as part of a large-scale investment in palm oil in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, social conflict has raged in the Malen Chiefdom. SOCFIN is controlled by a Belgian businessman (Hubert Fabri) and the French group Bolloré, which has developed a business empire in many parts of Africa. FIAN Belgium publishes a new report "Land Grabbing for Palm Oil in Sierra Leone : Analysis of the SOCFIN Case from a Human Rights Perspective".
Rubber group ousts farmers in Liberia by Bread for all | 21 Feb 2019 land grabbing | Liberia | Switzerland Land rights violations, expulsions, violence: According to a report by the development organization Bread for all, the Luxembourg-based Socfin plantation group and its Swiss subsidiaries are involved in serious human rights violations in Liberia. Food security and access to water and education have also deteriorated in the villages surrounding the rubber plantations. This example demonstrates the urgency of the Responsible Business Initiative, which is currently being discussed in the Swiss parliament. Land rights violations, expulsions, violence: According to a report by the development organization Bread for all, the Luxembourg-based Socfin plantation group and its Swiss subsidiaries are involved in serious human rights violations in Liberia. Food security and access to water and education have also deteriorated in the villages surrounding the rubber plantations. This example demonstrates the urgency of the Responsible Business Initiative, which is currently being discussed in the Swiss parliament.
EU trade with Trump would undermine international climate commitments by Civil society organisations | 18 Feb 2019 United States | EU | climate crisis Three years ago, widespread protests took place across Europe against a planned trade deal between the EU and the US. It was eventually halted. In order to avoid President Trump slapping tariffs on imports of EU-made cars, EU governments are now planning to agree terms to start negotiating a new transatlantic trade deal. Three years ago, widespread protests took place across Europe against a planned trade deal between the EU and the US. It was eventually halted. In order to avoid President Trump slapping tariffs on imports of EU-made cars, EU governments are now planning to agree terms to start negotiating a new transatlantic trade deal.
Rally in Bangladesh against the release of Golden Rice by Labour Resource Center | 13 Feb 2019 Bangladesh | seeds & biodiversity Today, on February 13, 2019, Wednesday, 11.00 pm organized by Bangladesh Krishok Federation, Bangladesh Bhumiheen Samity, Labour Resource Center, Bangladesh Kishani Sabha and Bangladesh Adivasi Samity organizing rally and human chain to protest and "Resist GM Golden Rice! Protect Local Variety of Seed!" in front of the National Press Club. Today, on February 13, 2019, Wednesday, 11.00 pm organized by Bangladesh Krishok Federation, Bangladesh Bhumiheen Samity, Labour Resource Center, Bangladesh Kishani Sabha and Bangladesh Adivasi Samity organizing rally and human chain to protest and "Resist GM Golden Rice! Protect Local Variety of Seed!" in front of the National Press Club.
When Bt brinjal is a failure, why Golden rice? by Farida Akhter, New Age | 11 Feb 2019 Bangladesh | seeds & biodiversity Introduction of genetically modified crop is a highly risky venture, particularly in a country like Bangladesh that is rich in biodiversity and bio-geographically known as the origin of diversity spot. Despite the known risks, Bangladesh has been targeted for experiment and field trials of GM transgenic crops such as Bt brinjal. This has been done despite the resistance from the farmers, scientists and environmental activists. Introduction of genetically modified crop is a highly risky venture, particularly in a country like Bangladesh that is rich in biodiversity and bio-geographically known as the origin of diversity spot. Despite the known risks, Bangladesh has been targeted for experiment and field trials of GM transgenic crops such as Bt brinjal. This has been done despite the resistance from the farmers, scientists and environmental activists.
Ethiopia gets its teff back by Jerry Chifamba | 8 Feb 2019 Ethiopia | seeds & biodiversity Ethiopia is celebrating a major victory in a long-running dispute over who owns the patent for products made from teff - an ancient grain that forms the basis of Ethiopia's staple food, injera. The country has been in a legal tussle with a Dutchman owning a patent on the production of Teff flour. Teff, famed for yielding white flour of good quality is used in injera and other traditional Ethiopian food. Ethiopia is celebrating a major victory in a long-running dispute over who owns the patent for products made from teff - an ancient grain that forms the basis of Ethiopia's staple food, injera. The country has been in a legal tussle with a Dutchman owning a patent on the production of Teff flour. Teff, famed for yielding white flour of good quality is used in injera and other traditional Ethiopian food.
Industrial agriculture and climate chaos by The Climate Collective | 21 Jan 2019 corporations | climate crisis The Climate Collective produced a great 20 page booklet called "Industrial agriculture and the climate chaos" Rich with data and illustrations, it is a good tool to use in awareness raising and capacity building activities. It can be downloaded here You can find English, German and Danish versions on the "Free the Soil" website The Climate Collective produced a great 20 page booklet called "Industrial agriculture and the climate chaos" Rich with data and illustrations, it is a good tool to use in awareness raising and capacity building activities. It can be downloaded here You can find English, German and Danish versions on the "Free the Soil" website
Civil society groups welcome decision of development bank complaints panel to proceed with complaint from DR Congo communities against palm oil company by RIAO-RDC et al. | 15 Jan 2019 Congo, the Democratic Republic of the | Germany | land grabbing | Land | Media releases The panel of the complaints mechanism for the German, Dutch and French development banks has ruled that a complaint submitted on 5 November 2018 by nine communities in the DR Congo is admissible. This means that the complaints mechanism will now begin a preliminary review process before initiating the mediation process requested by the communities to resolve their long-standing land conflict with Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC), a subsidiary of Canadian company, Feronia Inc. The panel of the complaints mechanism for the German, Dutch and French development banks has ruled that a complaint submitted on 5 November 2018 by nine communities in the DR Congo is admissible. This means that the complaints mechanism will now begin a preliminary review process before initiating the mediation process requested by the communities to resolve their long-standing land conflict with Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC), a subsidiary of Canadian company, Feronia Inc.