NAFTA at 30: The mother of all free trade agreements by bilaterals.org & GRAIN | 13 Jun 2024 Corporations As the first free trade agreement in contemporary history turns 30, it’s a good time to ask why this particular treaty played such a watershed role in the history of the global regime of trade and investment? To what extent this FTA has been the blueprint for a new global dynamic between governments, and between governments and their societies? For movements confronting free trade across continents, delving into the intricacies of NAFTA offers valuable insights. As the first free trade agreement in contemporary history turns 30, it’s a good time to ask why this particular treaty played such a watershed role in the history of the global regime of trade and investment? To what extent this FTA has been the blueprint for a new global dynamic between governments, and between governments and their societies? For movements confronting free trade across continents, delving into the intricacies of NAFTA offers valuable insights.
Free trade frenzy: the hidden costs of South Asia's economic gamble by GRAIN | 6 Jun 2024 Corporations Beyond tariffs and revenue loss, new FTAs in South Asia signal a broader shift. Today, trade agreements serve major investors and corporations, shaping legal frameworks in their favour, undermining the region's sovereignty in regards to food, rights and more. Beyond tariffs and revenue loss, new FTAs in South Asia signal a broader shift. Today, trade agreements serve major investors and corporations, shaping legal frameworks in their favour, undermining the region's sovereignty in regards to food, rights and more.
Whipping up disaster: how Brazil became a lab for financial agro-investments by GRAIN | 3 May 2024 Corporations How does Brazil become an agribusiness laboratory? The alliance between finance capital and large estates threatens future dispossession. Landless, homeless and waterless majorities could receive rent if they finance those they expropriate. How does Brazil become an agribusiness laboratory? The alliance between finance capital and large estates threatens future dispossession. Landless, homeless and waterless majorities could receive rent if they finance those they expropriate.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil explained by GRAIN | 18 Apr 2024 Corporations The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil is a front group protecting agribusiness companies and industrial monocultures. New primer explains what RSPO is and its impacts on local communities & workers. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil is a front group protecting agribusiness companies and industrial monocultures. New primer explains what RSPO is and its impacts on local communities & workers.
Food inflation: The math doesn't add up without factoring in corporate power by GRAIN | 21 Mar 2024 Corporations Farmers’ protests surge in 65 countries, yet global food prices are at historic highs. If farmers aren't benefiting from high food prices, who is? Farmers’ protests surge in 65 countries, yet global food prices are at historic highs. If farmers aren't benefiting from high food prices, who is?
Expanding markets, undermining food sovereignty: 10 years of China’s Belt and Road by GRAIN | 25 Jan 2024 Corporations Ten years into the Belt and Road Initiative projects, the expansion of corporate investments in the global agri-food system has reached new heights. As evidenced in this GRAIN report, it is hard to find anything “green” or small-scale about the BRI's plans in agriculture, fisheries and e-commerce. Ten years into the Belt and Road Initiative projects, the expansion of corporate investments in the global agri-food system has reached new heights. As evidenced in this GRAIN report, it is hard to find anything “green” or small-scale about the BRI's plans in agriculture, fisheries and e-commerce.
AfCFTA: More free trade? For whose benefit? by bilaterals.org & GRAIN | 24 Oct 2023 Corporations The AfCFTA pushes a model of “development” hinged on increased trade and investment under the guise of pan-Africanism. However, it is “more of the same” trade rules that we see under the WTO and bilateral agreements. Therefore, it will likely only benefit African elites and transnational capital, at the expense of local communities. The AfCFTA pushes a model of “development” hinged on increased trade and investment under the guise of pan-Africanism. However, it is “more of the same” trade rules that we see under the WTO and bilateral agreements. Therefore, it will likely only benefit African elites and transnational capital, at the expense of local communities.
The AfDB strategy to agro-industrialise Africa by GRAIN | 31 Jul 2023 Corporations One of the main objectives of the African Development Bank is to transform African agriculture by moving towards "agro-industrialisation". Who are the actors who benefit the most? What are the implications for the peasantry? One of the main objectives of the African Development Bank is to transform African agriculture by moving towards "agro-industrialisation". Who are the actors who benefit the most? What are the implications for the peasantry?
A corporate cartel fertilises food inflation by GRAIN & IATP | 23 May 2023 Corporations A new report reveals rampant profiteering from the fertiliser industry, emphasising the urgent need for global cuts in chemical fertiliser use. Sustainable, agroecological farming systems less reliant on chemical input is key to building resilient food systems. A new report reveals rampant profiteering from the fertiliser industry, emphasising the urgent need for global cuts in chemical fertiliser use. Sustainable, agroecological farming systems less reliant on chemical input is key to building resilient food systems.
Will more sovereign wealth funds mean less food sovereignty? by GRAIN | 6 Apr 2023 Corporations A handful of actors form the centre of gravity of global agricultural investing by sovereign wealth funds. Find out what “sovereign wealth funds” are and how they go against people’s struggles for foodsovereignty. A handful of actors form the centre of gravity of global agricultural investing by sovereign wealth funds. Find out what “sovereign wealth funds” are and how they go against people’s struggles for foodsovereignty.
Hunger profiteers in Latin America by GRAIN | 8 Mar 2023 Corporations Latin America is the world's largest exporter of food, but 4 in 10 people live with food insecurity in the region. Meanwhile, corporations and investors are making record profits by further entrenching impoverished food systems. Latin America is the world's largest exporter of food, but 4 in 10 people live with food insecurity in the region. Meanwhile, corporations and investors are making record profits by further entrenching impoverished food systems.
The corporate agenda behind carbon farming by GRAIN | 10 Feb 2023 Corporations In this short video/text, GRAIN explains how giant agribusiness corporations like Bayer are rolling out carbon credit scams (a.k.a. carbon farming) to increase their power over farmers and extract more profits. In this short video/text, GRAIN explains how giant agribusiness corporations like Bayer are rolling out carbon credit scams (a.k.a. carbon farming) to increase their power over farmers and extract more profits.
China and Vietnam’s questionable strategy to control Asia’s pig pandemic by GRAIN | 18 Jan 2023 Corporations In this update to previous GRAIN reports on African swine fever, we look into China and Vietnam’s questionable strategy for controlling Asia’s pig pandemic; the corporate interests behind it, and the harmful effects this is having on Asia’s fragile rural livelihoods. In this update to previous GRAIN reports on African swine fever, we look into China and Vietnam’s questionable strategy for controlling Asia’s pig pandemic; the corporate interests behind it, and the harmful effects this is having on Asia’s fragile rural livelihoods.
When big tech came for the farm: A blueprint of resistance from Asia’s small farmers by GRAIN | 16 Jan 2023 Corporations A massive data capture by Big Tech in the agricultural space is unfolding in Asia. Small farmers are resisting this in various ways. A massive data capture by Big Tech in the agricultural space is unfolding in Asia. Small farmers are resisting this in various ways.
Mónica Vargas Collazos of GRAIN on Israeli state backed agribusiness colonialism in Africa by Stefan Christoff | 29 Dec 2022 Corporations Stefan Christoff of Free City Radio (Montreal) interviews Mónica Vargas Collazos of GRAIN on Israeli state backed agribusiness colonialism in the global south. Stefan Christoff of Free City Radio (Montreal) interviews Mónica Vargas Collazos of GRAIN on Israeli state backed agribusiness colonialism in the global south.