African faith communities tell Gates Foundation, “Big farming is no solution for Africa” by SAFCEI (Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute) | 4 Aug 2021 Following the United Nations (UN) Food Systems Pre-Summit in Rome last week – a prequel to the Head of State-level Summit in New York, this September – faith communities from across Africa continue to call attention to the wide range of far-reaching consequences of current industrial agricultural models. Following the United Nations (UN) Food Systems Pre-Summit in Rome last week – a prequel to the Head of State-level Summit in New York, this September – faith communities from across Africa continue to call attention to the wide range of far-reaching consequences of current industrial agricultural models.
Golden rice in the Philippines: hurried approval raises questions by Farida Akhter and Afsar Jafri | 29 Jul 2021 The controversial genetically modified Golden rice, has surfaced again with the Philippines Rice Research Institute rushing through the commercial clearance despite popular opposition to GR not only in the Philippines but also in Bangladesh, Indonesia and India. In the Philippines, the Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, issued the Biosafety permit for commercial propagation of the genetically engineered golden rice on 21 July 2021. The controversial genetically modified Golden rice, has surfaced again with the Philippines Rice Research Institute rushing through the commercial clearance despite popular opposition to GR not only in the Philippines but also in Bangladesh, Indonesia and India. In the Philippines, the Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, issued the Biosafety permit for commercial propagation of the genetically engineered golden rice on 21 July 2021.
Trade agreements privatising biodiversity by GRAIN | 14 Jul 2021 For the past 30 years, industrialised countries have been forcing governments of the global South to adopt laws that privatise seeds so that farmers have to pay for them and keep seed companies afloat. They do this mainly through FTAs. This dataset zooms in on how countries are being forced to privatise seeds beyond the WTO. For the past 30 years, industrialised countries have been forcing governments of the global South to adopt laws that privatise seeds so that farmers have to pay for them and keep seed companies afloat. They do this mainly through FTAs. This dataset zooms in on how countries are being forced to privatise seeds beyond the WTO.
Punitive government policies jeopardise Kenya’s food security by Claire Nasike, Greenpeace Africa | 8 Jul 2021 By 2021 your typical Kenyan smallholder farmer was producing 75 per cent of the foods consumed in the country. Yet the draconian laws imposed on the agriculture sector by the government have been facilitating their exploitation by the private sector. An excellent analysis by Clair Nasike of Greenpeace Africa. By 2021 your typical Kenyan smallholder farmer was producing 75 per cent of the foods consumed in the country. Yet the draconian laws imposed on the agriculture sector by the government have been facilitating their exploitation by the private sector. An excellent analysis by Clair Nasike of Greenpeace Africa.
Of lobsters and mobsters: Who are the companies poaching the oceans? by GRAIN | 24 Jun 2021 The big seafood companies are no small fry. They dominate a global industry worth over US$400 billion a year, and that provides around 20% of global animal protein and jobs for 60 million people. We need to be much more aware of these companies. They are the main culprits in the industrialisation of the oceans which is utterly decimating the world's marine wildlife. The big seafood companies are no small fry. They dominate a global industry worth over US$400 billion a year, and that provides around 20% of global animal protein and jobs for 60 million people. We need to be much more aware of these companies. They are the main culprits in the industrialisation of the oceans which is utterly decimating the world's marine wildlife.
Confronting neoliberalism with feminist climate justice by Akina Mama wa Afrika & GRAIN | 10 Jun 2021 The missing link in ongoing climate actions is the non-recognition that climate change is a social issue. Climate action must be linked to the social justice struggle and centered around those who consistently remain invisible in the world. This is why, we strongly prescribe feminist climate justice approaches to address this crisis. The missing link in ongoing climate actions is the non-recognition that climate change is a social issue. Climate action must be linked to the social justice struggle and centered around those who consistently remain invisible in the world. This is why, we strongly prescribe feminist climate justice approaches to address this crisis.
The global food system: a waste of energy by GRAIN | 7 Jun 2021 The global food system – from farm to fork – uses an enormous amount of energy. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, some 30% of all the energy used in the world is dedicated to power the food system. So almost one-third of all the world’s energy is used to feed us. Most of that energy comes from fossil fuels. The global food system – from farm to fork – uses an enormous amount of energy. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, some 30% of all the energy used in the world is dedicated to power the food system. So almost one-third of all the world’s energy is used to feed us. Most of that energy comes from fossil fuels.
In honour of Aziz Choudry by GRAIN | 2 Jun 2021 We are going to sorely miss Aziz’s deeply insightful guidance. His anti-colonialism, anti-imperialism and anti-racism were in his DNA and inspired us daily. Aziz’s departure leaves a hole in our hearts, but he has filled our lives with friends, allies and courage we otherwise would not have had. We are going to sorely miss Aziz’s deeply insightful guidance. His anti-colonialism, anti-imperialism and anti-racism were in his DNA and inspired us daily. Aziz’s departure leaves a hole in our hearts, but he has filled our lives with friends, allies and courage we otherwise would not have had.
Nature is NOT a “Solution” by WRM | 20 May 2021 The latest issue of the WRM bulletin is excellent. It dismantles the "nature based solutions" discourse that is now being used by governments and corporations alike to justify doing nothing to fight the climate crisis. Or worse, to promote landg rabbing on a scale never seen before. The latest issue of the WRM bulletin is excellent. It dismantles the "nature based solutions" discourse that is now being used by governments and corporations alike to justify doing nothing to fight the climate crisis. Or worse, to promote landg rabbing on a scale never seen before.
Agribusiness’s new weapon — fire: how peoples and communities are being driven out of their own land by GRAIN | 18 May 2021 The platform Agro é fogo has drafted a report outlining specific scenarios and analyses as a joint effort to stop the social and environmental catastrophe in its tracks. The report delves deep into the intrinsic link between the increased use of fire, deforestation and slave labour, and how public lands in the Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal biomes become illegally occupied. The platform Agro é fogo has drafted a report outlining specific scenarios and analyses as a joint effort to stop the social and environmental catastrophe in its tracks. The report delves deep into the intrinsic link between the increased use of fire, deforestation and slave labour, and how public lands in the Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal biomes become illegally occupied.
The untold story of Feronia Inc's failed rice operations in the DR Congo by GRAIN | 18 May 2021 Feronia had sunk at least US$14 million into its rice operations before suddenly "discontinuing" them in 2017 without explanation. A few years later, Feronia filed for bankruptcy. It has long been suspected that Feronia's rice venture was a front to channel funds to a high-level Congolese politician who facilitated Feronia's entry into the DRC. Feronia had sunk at least US$14 million into its rice operations before suddenly "discontinuing" them in 2017 without explanation. A few years later, Feronia filed for bankruptcy. It has long been suspected that Feronia's rice venture was a front to channel funds to a high-level Congolese politician who facilitated Feronia's entry into the DRC.
The global farmland grab goes green by GRAIN | 10 May 2021 These days the companies that are in the business of selling farmland to billionaires and pension funds are peddling it as a green, sustainable and socially responsible investment. Carbon credits and net-zero pledges are fueling a new round of farmland buying by billionaires and pension funds that will undermine real climate solutions. These days the companies that are in the business of selling farmland to billionaires and pension funds are peddling it as a green, sustainable and socially responsible investment. Carbon credits and net-zero pledges are fueling a new round of farmland buying by billionaires and pension funds that will undermine real climate solutions.
A farewell to Meriem Louanchi by GRAIN | 26 Apr 2021 Meriem, thank your for your courage, your heart, your friendship, your great intellect and your unwillingness to be pushed around. You inspired us, opened minds and helped us become sharper and stronger in our work. Meriem, thank your for your courage, your heart, your friendship, your great intellect and your unwillingness to be pushed around. You inspired us, opened minds and helped us become sharper and stronger in our work.
Tribute to René Segbènou, a friend of GRAIN who has just left us by GRAIN | 12 Apr 2021 A tireless advocate for the peasant cause, René is one of those who, very early on, understood that the crisis in rural areas and agriculture needs strong voices that will be heard. Yesterday he was taken away in the last battle he fought for about 15 years. Go fighter, colleague, brother and friend, we will never forget you! A tireless advocate for the peasant cause, René is one of those who, very early on, understood that the crisis in rural areas and agriculture needs strong voices that will be heard. Yesterday he was taken away in the last battle he fought for about 15 years. Go fighter, colleague, brother and friend, we will never forget you!
GM waxy maize: The gene edited Trojan Horse is moving through the gates by GRAIN | 29 Mar 2021 At least five countries-- Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile and the US-- are allowing a variety of maize genetically modified (GM) with a genome editing technique called CRISPR to be released without the risk assessments and regulations required of GM crops. Other countries could soon follow. At least five countries-- Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile and the US-- are allowing a variety of maize genetically modified (GM) with a genome editing technique called CRISPR to be released without the risk assessments and regulations required of GM crops. Other countries could soon follow.