A critical look at the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN) in Senegal by Canadian Food Security Policy Group | 2 Jun 2017 Canada | Senegal | laws & policies Canada’s support for the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN) in Senegal has demonstrated that this model of public-private partnership is not necessarily the most effective way to meet development goals. This is according to research conducted in Senegal and Canada by the Canadian Food Security Policy Group (FSPG). Canada’s support for the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN) in Senegal has demonstrated that this model of public-private partnership is not necessarily the most effective way to meet development goals. This is according to research conducted in Senegal and Canada by the Canadian Food Security Policy Group (FSPG).
Open letter: why WHO should address industrial animal farming by Scott Weathers and Sophie Hermanns | 25 May 2017 corporations | food crisis An open letter released this week and signed by over 200 scientists, policy experts and others, urges the new Director General of the World Health Organization to recognize and address factory farming as a public health challenge. An open letter released this week and signed by over 200 scientists, policy experts and others, urges the new Director General of the World Health Organization to recognize and address factory farming as a public health challenge.
Urgent action to help GM-free Ecuador by Red por una América Latina Libre de Transgénicos (RALLT) | 23 May 2017 Ecuador | seeds & biodiversity | GMOs The Constitution of Ecuador declared the country "Free of Transgenic Seeds and Crops". Now, a few days after finishing his term, outgoing President Correa vetoes the seeds law, which would allow transgenic seeds and crops to enter Ecuador for research purposes. The Constitution of Ecuador declared the country "Free of Transgenic Seeds and Crops". Now, a few days after finishing his term, outgoing President Correa vetoes the seeds law, which would allow transgenic seeds and crops to enter Ecuador for research purposes.
Seeds of rural renewal sown in Senegal by Cissokho Lassana, IRIN | 19 May 2017 Senegal | climate crisis | seeds & biodiversity For several decades, the prospect of a better life has prompted countless inhabitants of rural parts of Africa to head to cities. In Senegal’s Fuladu region, a local initiative aimed at making agriculture more viable aims to reverse that trend. It revolves around seeds. For several decades, the prospect of a better life has prompted countless inhabitants of rural parts of Africa to head to cities. In Senegal’s Fuladu region, a local initiative aimed at making agriculture more viable aims to reverse that trend. It revolves around seeds.
Women and traditional oil palm: a struggle for life by World Rainforest Movement | 17 May 2017 Cameroon | land grabbing | food sovereignty Marie Crescence Ngobo coordinates the Sustainable Development Actors Network in Cameroon (RADD, by its French acronym). RADD works with women on economic and social issues, organising activities that help women regain their identity and autonomy, in order to improve their families’ living conditions. Marie Crescence Ngobo coordinates the Sustainable Development Actors Network in Cameroon (RADD, by its French acronym). RADD works with women on economic and social issues, organising activities that help women regain their identity and autonomy, in order to improve their families’ living conditions.
“Green” oil palm plantations are a scam: the case of OLAM by World Rainforest Movement, GRAIN | 16 May 2017 corporations | Gabon | Indonesia How do major oil palm companies manage to get their palm oil sold as a “green”, “sustainable” and “climate-friendly” product when it is none of that? How does this green image help corporations to expand even further, as is happening now in Africa? This article looks into the case of OLAM International, which in February 2017 published its Draft Global Policy on Forests. OLAM’s promising words are merely a smokescreen around what is still its main objective: increasing profits. How do major oil palm companies manage to get their palm oil sold as a “green”, “sustainable” and “climate-friendly” product when it is none of that? How does this green image help corporations to expand even further, as is happening now in Africa? This article looks into the case of OLAM International, which in February 2017 published its Draft Global Policy on Forests. OLAM’s promising words are merely a smokescreen around what is still its main objective: increasing profits.
Declaration of the international meetings of the resistances to GMOs by Food Sovereignty Ghana | 9 May 2017 France | seeds & biodiversity | GMOs About 130 people from 28 countries participated at the second International Convergence of the Resistance against GMOs. About 130 people from 28 countries participated at the second International Convergence of the Resistance against GMOs.
Asia farmers decry revival of Golden Rice field trials by Stop Golden Rice! Network | 20 Apr 2017 Philippines | seeds & biodiversity | GMOs Amidst the celebration of Earth Day, farmers and civil societies coming from India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as regional organizations such as the Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific, Asian Peasants Coalition and GRAIN, called for the utmost protection and preservation of the environment by rejecting destructive and corporate dominated technologies such as Golden rice and GM crops that are presently threatening the lives and livelihood of Asian farmers. Amidst the celebration of Earth Day, farmers and civil societies coming from India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as regional organizations such as the Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific, Asian Peasants Coalition and GRAIN, called for the utmost protection and preservation of the environment by rejecting destructive and corporate dominated technologies such as Golden rice and GM crops that are presently threatening the lives and livelihood of Asian farmers.
Action on Day of the Landless 2017 by APC | 28 Mar 2017 land grabbing | corporations The militant tradition of commemorating the “Day of the Landless” led by the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) and its network continues this year on March 29 with the theme “Fight for Land! Fight for Life! Intensify the struggle against global land grabbing!” The militant tradition of commemorating the “Day of the Landless” led by the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) and its network continues this year on March 29 with the theme “Fight for Land! Fight for Life! Intensify the struggle against global land grabbing!”
Opposition rises to planned agriculture mega-mergers - media release by FOEE | 27 Mar 2017 corporations | GMOs More than 200 organisations signed a letter to the European Commission to stop the planned mega-mergers of the worlds biggest agrochemical companies. More than 200 organisations signed a letter to the European Commission to stop the planned mega-mergers of the worlds biggest agrochemical companies.
Top five reasons why we must block agrichemical and seed mega-mergers by Antonio Roman-Alcalá | 13 Mar 2017 United States | corporations | seeds & biodiversity Antonio Roman-Alcalá, sustainable food campaigner for Friends of the Earth US, shares why agrichemical and seed mega-mergers are harmful to the food system. Antonio Roman-Alcalá, sustainable food campaigner for Friends of the Earth US, shares why agrichemical and seed mega-mergers are harmful to the food system.
Meat and dairy industries damage climate by Food Tank | 1 Mar 2017 Argentina | China | United States | corporations | climate crisis | food sovereignty Food Tank interviews GRAIN about its recent report on industrial meat and climate. Food Tank interviews GRAIN about its recent report on industrial meat and climate.
Agroecology: the bold future of farming in Africa by AFSA | 22 Feb 2017 seeds & biodiversity The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) today launched a publication highlighting the huge potential of agroecology to feed Africa, fix broken food systems and repair damaged landscapes, providing abundant healthy and nutritious food sustainably while increasing incomes and improving climate resilience. The 88 page illustrated book showcases 15 case studies, showing how agroecology benefits Africa in terms of food and nutrition, livelihoods, restoration of biodiversity, knowledge and innovation, and climate change resilience. The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) today launched a publication highlighting the huge potential of agroecology to feed Africa, fix broken food systems and repair damaged landscapes, providing abundant healthy and nutritious food sustainably while increasing incomes and improving climate resilience. The 88 page illustrated book showcases 15 case studies, showing how agroecology benefits Africa in terms of food and nutrition, livelihoods, restoration of biodiversity, knowledge and innovation, and climate change resilience.
In Brazil, samba drums up opposition to factory farming by Jan Rocha, Climate News Network | 21 Feb 2017 Brazil | climate crisis Concern about the environmental impact of industrialised farming through the use of pesticides and the destruction of the rainforest has even spread to Brazil’s famous Rio carnival. One of the most famous samba schools, Imperatriz Leopoldinese, will take part later this month in the all-night parade in Rio de Janeiro, singing and dancing to highlight the plight of the Amazon’s indigenous Xingu population, whose reserve is now completely surrounded by cattle and soy fields. The musical protest has aroused a furious response from the agribusiness lobby, which has accused the sambistas of denigrating their efforts to feed the population. Concern about the environmental impact of industrialised farming through the use of pesticides and the destruction of the rainforest has even spread to Brazil’s famous Rio carnival. One of the most famous samba schools, Imperatriz Leopoldinese, will take part later this month in the all-night parade in Rio de Janeiro, singing and dancing to highlight the plight of the Amazon’s indigenous Xingu population, whose reserve is now completely surrounded by cattle and soy fields. The musical protest has aroused a furious response from the agribusiness lobby, which has accused the sambistas of denigrating their efforts to feed the population.
Interview with Guy Marius Sagna, Coordinator of the National Coalition "No to EPAs" in Senegal by Bilaterals.org | 13 Feb 2017 Cote d'Ivoire | Ghana | Senegal | food sovereignty | laws & policies Guy Marius Sagna is the Coordinator of the National Coalition "No to EPAs" in Senegal. He discusses two free trade projects in Africa: Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA). "These deals have been preceded by the IMF and the World Bank’s structural adjustment programmes that imposed liberalising our economies and opening our markets. It’s part of an international labour division scheme that makes our “underdeveloped” countries consumers of goods from other countries whose role is to produce those goods. The EPA reinforces this process, which will impoverish our countries even more". Guy Marius Sagna is the Coordinator of the National Coalition "No to EPAs" in Senegal. He discusses two free trade projects in Africa: Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA). "These deals have been preceded by the IMF and the World Bank’s structural adjustment programmes that imposed liberalising our economies and opening our markets. It’s part of an international labour division scheme that makes our “underdeveloped” countries consumers of goods from other countries whose role is to produce those goods. The EPA reinforces this process, which will impoverish our countries even more".