Bid to lift hybrid rice yield to 15 tonnes a hectare slammed by South China Morning Post | 4 Dec 2012 China | seeds & biodiversity Rival researchers say Professor Yuan's bid to reach 15 tonnes a hectare is too costly and risks making rice vulnerable to pests and weather. "The rice was created for one purpose, and that's the personal obsession of Yuan to increase yield." Rival researchers say Professor Yuan's bid to reach 15 tonnes a hectare is too costly and risks making rice vulnerable to pests and weather. "The rice was created for one purpose, and that's the personal obsession of Yuan to increase yield."
We will not share Monsanto's risk - Open letter to the EBRD by BankWatch | 19 Nov 2012 actions More than 150 organisations, including GRAIN, have called on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to not further consider USD 40 million unfunded risk participation in Monsanto's portfolio in Bulgaria, Hungary, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine. More than 150 organisations, including GRAIN, have called on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to not further consider USD 40 million unfunded risk participation in Monsanto's portfolio in Bulgaria, Hungary, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
India: GMOs on their way out? by Nature.com | 24 Oct 2012 India | technologies A Technical Expert Committee appointed by the Indian Supreme Court wants all open GMO field trials stopped and calls for a re-examination of biosafety data on all GM crops already in the field and a whole series of limitations to planting GM crops in the country. Here is a note from Nature.com that gives a summary. A Technical Expert Committee appointed by the Indian Supreme Court wants all open GMO field trials stopped and calls for a re-examination of biosafety data on all GM crops already in the field and a whole series of limitations to planting GM crops in the country. Here is a note from Nature.com that gives a summary.
A reflection on “the idea of a town” and on the reality of cities in an uncertain time by Jean Robert | 12 Oct 2012 More people in cities than on the countryside? Three years ago, it was announced that the inhabitants of the world’s cities had outnumbered the inhabitants of the countryside. In its 2007 report, the UN Fund stated that 3 billion 300 million persons lived by then in urban milieus. One billion of them dwell in what is called slums. The same report forecasts that, if present tendencies continue, in 2030, 5 billion will be urbanites, 80% of them in so-called “developing countries” and adds “many of these urbanites will be poor”. When the UN says “poor”, it means miserable. More people in cities than on the countryside? Three years ago, it was announced that the inhabitants of the world’s cities had outnumbered the inhabitants of the countryside. In its 2007 report, the UN Fund stated that 3 billion 300 million persons lived by then in urban milieus. One billion of them dwell in what is called slums. The same report forecasts that, if present tendencies continue, in 2030, 5 billion will be urbanites, 80% of them in so-called “developing countries” and adds “many of these urbanites will be poor”. When the UN says “poor”, it means miserable.
Cargill's profits quadruple as world food crisis deepens by GRAIN | 11 Oct 2012 corporations The world's largest grain trader made US$1 billion in profits from June to August, as people across the world struggled with rising prices for grains. The world's largest grain trader made US$1 billion in profits from June to August, as people across the world struggled with rising prices for grains.
Nyéléni newsletter # 11 - Food and Cities by Organisations of the Food Sovereignty Movement | 9 Oct 2012 land grabbing | food crisis | food sovereignty | food safety Nearly a quarter of the world’s fresh food is supplied by approximately one billion people who produce fruits and vegetables on urban and peri-urban farms and gardens. While most of this food is consumed by the producers themselves, a substantial part goes directly into urban markets at affordable prices. Given that over half of the world’s economically poor population now live in cities, and given the dangerous volatility of global food markets, this locally-produced food is becoming increasingly important to urban food security. Nearly a quarter of the world’s fresh food is supplied by approximately one billion people who produce fruits and vegetables on urban and peri-urban farms and gardens. While most of this food is consumed by the producers themselves, a substantial part goes directly into urban markets at affordable prices. Given that over half of the world’s economically poor population now live in cities, and given the dangerous volatility of global food markets, this locally-produced food is becoming increasingly important to urban food security.
Mauritania: Foreign subsidies sour domestic milk industry by IRIN | 1 Oct 2012 Mauritania | food sovereignty Dairy farmers and pastoralists struggle as Mauritanian market is flooded with cheap milk products imported from Europe. Dairy farmers and pastoralists struggle as Mauritanian market is flooded with cheap milk products imported from Europe.
Move toward new Pan-African IP organisation alarms observers by William New | 28 Sep 2012 seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies A seemingly remote African Union proposal to create a Pan-African Intellectual Property Organization appears to have gained momentum and will come before African science and technology ministers for review in early November, according to sources. A copy of the final draft statutes shows how the new body would operate, and for some observers, how it would elevate African IP standards well above current levels, with “disastrous consequences” for access, development, and human rights. A seemingly remote African Union proposal to create a Pan-African Intellectual Property Organization appears to have gained momentum and will come before African science and technology ministers for review in early November, according to sources. A copy of the final draft statutes shows how the new body would operate, and for some observers, how it would elevate African IP standards well above current levels, with “disastrous consequences” for access, development, and human rights.
Statement on AGRA by | 27 Sep 2012 technologies Twenty-eight African organisations issue statement denouncing the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) for imposing a corporate-controlled seed and chemical system of agriculture on smallholder farmers. Twenty-eight African organisations issue statement denouncing the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) for imposing a corporate-controlled seed and chemical system of agriculture on smallholder farmers.
Cereal secrets: The world's largest grain traders and global agriculture by Oxfam | 27 Aug 2012 corporations Oxfam recently put out a new report on the world's largest grain traders, the so-called ABCD firms, that provides a detailed overview of their activies, including the speculation that these companies are increasinlgy involved in. Oxfam recently put out a new report on the world's largest grain traders, the so-called ABCD firms, that provides a detailed overview of their activies, including the speculation that these companies are increasinlgy involved in.
Chinese government hires CP Group for US$4 billion project to set up factory farms in China by GRAIN | 23 Aug 2012 China | Thailand | corporations The Nation is reporting that Chia Tai, the Chinese arm of Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group, will manage a US$4 billion project to set up 13 industrial pig, poultry and shrimp farming projects in several Chinese provinces. The Nation is reporting that Chia Tai, the Chinese arm of Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group, will manage a US$4 billion project to set up 13 industrial pig, poultry and shrimp farming projects in several Chinese provinces.
GRAIN external evaluation 2012 by GRAIN | 1 Aug 2012 Between April and June 2012, GRAIN underwent its latest external evaluation. This evaluation focused on GRAIN's work on land grabbing, over the period 2008-2011. The executive summary and recommendations are now available online. Between April and June 2012, GRAIN underwent its latest external evaluation. This evaluation focused on GRAIN's work on land grabbing, over the period 2008-2011. The executive summary and recommendations are now available online.
When CP came to the village: An interview with Wirat Phromson of Thailand's Northern Peasants' Federation by GRAIN | 30 Jul 2012 Thailand | corporations Wirat Phromson, a farmer from Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, talks about his village's experience with contract farming for Thailand's biggest meat company, Charoen Pokphand. Wirat Phromson, a farmer from Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, talks about his village's experience with contract farming for Thailand's biggest meat company, Charoen Pokphand.
Geopolitics of drought by Ian Masters | 24 Jul 2012 corporations | food crisis | food sovereignty Ian Masters interviews Eric Holt-Giménez about the current drought affecting numerous grain-producing countries and its potential impacts Ian Masters interviews Eric Holt-Giménez about the current drought affecting numerous grain-producing countries and its potential impacts
The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse - G8 corporate power by Glenn Ashton | 28 Jun 2012 corporations A Faustian bargain was made at the June 2012 G8 meeting by US President Obama. Instead of delivering on commitments, he changed tack and roped in a $3 billion "pledge of corporate assistance" for African agriculture. A Faustian bargain was made at the June 2012 G8 meeting by US President Obama. Instead of delivering on commitments, he changed tack and roped in a $3 billion "pledge of corporate assistance" for African agriculture.