Bubble bursts on next generation biofuels by Bloomberg | 9 Jul 2013 corporations Investments in next generation biofuels have shrunk from a high of US$7.6 billion in the last quarter of 2007 to US$57 million in the 1st quarter of 2013, leaving future demand to continue being met by the use of food crops. Investments in next generation biofuels have shrunk from a high of US$7.6 billion in the last quarter of 2007 to US$57 million in the 1st quarter of 2013, leaving future demand to continue being met by the use of food crops.
US Embassy must be open and transparent on GMO debate in Ghana by Food Sovereignty Ghana | 9 Jul 2013 Ghana | technologies | seeds & biodiversity Following our call for a moratorium on genetically modified foods and crops in Ghana, Food Sovereignty Ghana has received an invitation from the US Embassy in Accra to a CLOSED DOOR “Roundtable Discussion and an Interdisciplinary Presentation on Biotechnology at the US Embassy on July 10”. Following our call for a moratorium on genetically modified foods and crops in Ghana, Food Sovereignty Ghana has received an invitation from the US Embassy in Accra to a CLOSED DOOR “Roundtable Discussion and an Interdisciplinary Presentation on Biotechnology at the US Embassy on July 10”.
Global threat to food supply as water wells dry up, warns top environment expert by John Vidal | 8 Jul 2013 food crisis | China | Saudi Arabia | United States Grain harvests are already shrinking as US, India and China come close to 'peak water', says the Global Policy Institute's Lester Brown Grain harvests are already shrinking as US, India and China come close to 'peak water', says the Global Policy Institute's Lester Brown
Choice of Monsanto Betrays World Food Prize Purpose, Say Global Leaders by Francis Moore Lappé and Anna Lappé | 27 Jun 2013 seeds & biodiversity In honoring the seed biotechnology industry, this year's World Food Prize -- to many, the most prestigious prize in food and agriculture -- betrays the award's own mandate to emphasize "the importance of a nutritious and sustainable food supply for all people." In honoring the seed biotechnology industry, this year's World Food Prize -- to many, the most prestigious prize in food and agriculture -- betrays the award's own mandate to emphasize "the importance of a nutritious and sustainable food supply for all people."
Paraguayan indigenous community reoccupies territory after two decades of forced expulsion by Real News | 23 Jun 2013 Paraguay | land grabbing Indigenous families in Paraguay have been living precariously on the side of a highway in the remote Chaco region for more than 20 years, ever since a German cattle rancher and the Paraguayan state illegally kicked them off of their ancestral lands. Video report by Real News. Indigenous families in Paraguay have been living precariously on the side of a highway in the remote Chaco region for more than 20 years, ever since a German cattle rancher and the Paraguayan state illegally kicked them off of their ancestral lands. Video report by Real News.
China’s Great Uprooting: Moving 250 Million Into Cities by Ian Jonhson | 17 Jun 2013 China China is pushing ahead with a sweeping plan to move 250 million rural residents into newly constructed towns and cities over the next dozen years — a transformative event that could set off a new wave of growth or saddle the country with problems for generations to come. But: who is going to produce the food in China, if its farmers are moved to the cities? An article by Ian Jonhson of the New York Times. China is pushing ahead with a sweeping plan to move 250 million rural residents into newly constructed towns and cities over the next dozen years — a transformative event that could set off a new wave of growth or saddle the country with problems for generations to come. But: who is going to produce the food in China, if its farmers are moved to the cities? An article by Ian Jonhson of the New York Times.
Africa, let us help – just like in 1884 by George Monbiot | 11 Jun 2013 United Kingdom | land grabbing | corporations From the Conference of Berlin to today's G8, 'helping' Africans looks suspiciously like grabbing their resources. An excellent take on the G8 plans to help Africa, by George Monbiot. From the Conference of Berlin to today's G8, 'helping' Africans looks suspiciously like grabbing their resources. An excellent take on the G8 plans to help Africa, by George Monbiot.
Open Letter from Mozambican civil society organisations and movements to the presidents of Mozambique and Brazil and the Prime Minister of Japan by UNAC et al | 3 Jun 2013 Brazil | Japan | Mozambique | land grabbing The sweeping scope of the ProSavana programme stands in contrast to the total absence of a broad, transparent and democratic public debate over it, preventing small-scale farmers and their families from exercising their constitutional right of access to information, consultation, participation and informed consent on a matter of great social, economic and environmental relevance. The sweeping scope of the ProSavana programme stands in contrast to the total absence of a broad, transparent and democratic public debate over it, preventing small-scale farmers and their families from exercising their constitutional right of access to information, consultation, participation and informed consent on a matter of great social, economic and environmental relevance.
Our man in Sudan by Aljazeera | 1 Jun 2013 Sudan | land grabbing | corporations An ex-Wall Street banker jets off to South Sudan to show how investors are rushing to Africa in a modern-day land-grab. A fascinationg Aljazeera video. An ex-Wall Street banker jets off to South Sudan to show how investors are rushing to Africa in a modern-day land-grab. A fascinationg Aljazeera video.
Modernising African agriculture: who benefits? by ACB, AFSA and others | 17 May 2013 corporations | technologies | actions African civil society organisations are up in arms about the new corporate and donor initiatives to 'help' Africa. They have launched an appeal against the plans of the G8, AGRA, and others to drive corporate agriculture into the continent. Read and support their appeal online. (also in French and Portuguese) African civil society organisations are up in arms about the new corporate and donor initiatives to 'help' Africa. They have launched an appeal against the plans of the G8, AGRA, and others to drive corporate agriculture into the continent. Read and support their appeal online. (also in French and Portuguese)
Ugandan schoolboys reflect on landgrabbing by Lorna Jones | 26 Apr 2013 Uganda | land grabbing Ochen Solomon is one of four Ugandan schoolboys who wrote essays about the effects of land grabbing on the lives of their families and community as part of the annual Essay Contest for Children and Young People of African Descent 2013. This London-originated initiative encourages and supports educational development in children aged 7 to 16 years in Africa and across the African diaspora. Ochen and his schoolmates chose to read GRAIN's report, "Squeezing Africa Dry" from a list of documents on contemporary issues. The questions they had to address were: What are your views on the topic of land grabbing? What are your solutions to these challenges? What is your family, or people you know, doing about it? They then conducted their own independent research on their chosen topic, and then provided their perspective on it. Ochen Solomon is one of four Ugandan schoolboys who wrote essays about the effects of land grabbing on the lives of their families and community as part of the annual Essay Contest for Children and Young People of African Descent 2013. This London-originated initiative encourages and supports educational development in children aged 7 to 16 years in Africa and across the African diaspora. Ochen and his schoolmates chose to read GRAIN's report, "Squeezing Africa Dry" from a list of documents on contemporary issues. The questions they had to address were: What are your views on the topic of land grabbing? What are your solutions to these challenges? What is your family, or people you know, doing about it? They then conducted their own independent research on their chosen topic, and then provided their perspective on it.
Is Africa about to lose the right to her seed? by Glenn Ashton | 23 Apr 2013 food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies Seed and the control of seed lies at the heart of agriculture. In Africa around 80% of seed comes from local and community saved seed resources. This seed is adapted to local conditions. It forms an integral part of community food security and agricultural integrity. This entire traditional system is now under threat. Seed and the control of seed lies at the heart of agriculture. In Africa around 80% of seed comes from local and community saved seed resources. This seed is adapted to local conditions. It forms an integral part of community food security and agricultural integrity. This entire traditional system is now under threat.
Mozambican youth and students denounce G8's New Alliance by ADECRU | 17 Apr 2013 Mozambique | food sovereignty | laws & policies Youth and student group Academic Action for the Development of Rural Communities (ADECRU) call G8's New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition in Africa an attack against Africa's food sovereignty, cultural diversity and biodiversity. Youth and student group Academic Action for the Development of Rural Communities (ADECRU) call G8's New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition in Africa an attack against Africa's food sovereignty, cultural diversity and biodiversity.
Drought and dams in biblical garden of Eden by Julia Harte | 16 Apr 2013 Iraq | Turkey The Ilısu Dam, an 11 billion-cubic-meter hydroelectric project on the Tigris River in Turkey will reduce the river’s downstream flow from 20 billion cubic meters to just 9, destroying about 670,000 hectares of arable land in Iraq. A National Geographic story of a disaster in the making. The Ilısu Dam, an 11 billion-cubic-meter hydroelectric project on the Tigris River in Turkey will reduce the river’s downstream flow from 20 billion cubic meters to just 9, destroying about 670,000 hectares of arable land in Iraq. A National Geographic story of a disaster in the making.
GE trees to fight climate change? by Dr. Rachel Smolker | 9 Apr 2013 United States | corporations | climate crisis | GMOs The realities of climate change have become altogether painfully obvious. Many are working to address this by reducing consumption, and protecting landscapes and biodiversity. ArborGen and other tree biotechnology companies, however, have a different vision. They want to develop so-called “bio-energy” from massive plantations of genetically engineered (GE) trees. The realities of climate change have become altogether painfully obvious. Many are working to address this by reducing consumption, and protecting landscapes and biodiversity. ArborGen and other tree biotechnology companies, however, have a different vision. They want to develop so-called “bio-energy” from massive plantations of genetically engineered (GE) trees.