Climate

The climate crisis and the food crisis are intimately linked, with the industrial food system - from farm to supermarket - largely responsible for both. Under this programme area, GRAIN draws attention to the responsibility of industrial agriculture and centralised supply chains in causing the climate crisis, and how food sovereignty and peasant-led agroecology offer a tremendous potential to solve a good part of it. 

We do so through sustained information and outreach activities, and through active strategy development and coalition building with the social movements involved.

Insights into the evolution of China's agri-food system

China’s globalised food strategies have led the country into a “contradiction” between self-sufficiency and food imports. In this interview, GRAIN assesses the impacts of the now corporate-based food system over the last four decades.

China’s globalised food strategies have led the country into a “contradiction” between self-sufficiency and food imports. In this interview, GRAIN assesses the impacts of the now corporate-based food system over the last four decades.

The well is running dry on irrigated agriculture

Groundwater depletion is not just a problem in California. It is a problem for many of the world's major irrigated agricultural areas. According to one study, the global area affected by groundwater depletion has more than doubled between 1960 and 2000 and has accelerated since then. Other researchers estimate that a third of the world's major aquifers are now at risk.

Groundwater depletion is not just a problem in California. It is a problem for many of the world's major irrigated agricultural areas. According to one study, the global area affected by groundwater depletion has more than doubled between 1960 and 2000 and has accelerated since then. Other researchers estimate that a third of the world's major aquifers are now at risk.

Purchasing land in Niger for carbon credits: the new form of greenwashing sweeping Africa

With COP 27 in full swing in Egypt, and all eyes once again on this climate conference – rapidly becoming the great carnival of promises that will never be kept - one question is surely haunting many Nigeriens: will the sale of carbon credits provide any benefit for communities and the climate?

With COP 27 in full swing in Egypt, and all eyes once again on this climate conference – rapidly becoming the great carnival of promises that will never be kept - one question is surely haunting many Nigeriens: will the sale of carbon credits provide any benefit for communities and the climate?

An agribusiness greenwashing glossary

The main contributors to the climate crisis are devising plans for the agri-food sector which will only serve to make them richer. To do this, they offer a range of “climate compatible” projects and technologies. This will lead to the expansion of the agribusiness model, bringing more destruction and dispossession. Here, we present their “Greenwashing Toolkit”.

The main contributors to the climate crisis are devising plans for the agri-food sector which will only serve to make them richer. To do this, they offer a range of “climate compatible” projects and technologies. This will lead to the expansion of the agribusiness model, bringing more destruction and dispossession. Here, we present their “Greenwashing Toolkit”.

From land grab to soil grab - the new business of carbon farming

The world's largest agrochemical companies are pushing ahead with carbon credit programmes to enhance their power in the food system and enable big oil, food and tech corporations to avoid cuts to their emissions. This massive soil grab is based on faulty carbon sequestration schemes that undermine real climate solutions.

The world's largest agrochemical companies are pushing ahead with carbon credit programmes to enhance their power in the food system and enable big oil, food and tech corporations to avoid cuts to their emissions. This massive soil grab is based on faulty carbon sequestration schemes that undermine real climate solutions.

New research shows 50 year binge on chemical fertilisers must end to address the climate crisis

New research shows nitrogen fertilisers made from fossil fuels are an ecological disaster, responsible for around a quarter of all GHGs from agriculture. The research provides the first estimate of the global climate impacts of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers to cover the entire production chain, from manufacturing to soil application. A global phase-out is urgently required!

New research shows nitrogen fertilisers made from fossil fuels are an ecological disaster, responsible for around a quarter of all GHGs from agriculture. The research provides the first estimate of the global climate impacts of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers to cover the entire production chain, from manufacturing to soil application. A global phase-out is urgently required!

Agribusiness and big finance's dirty alliance is anything but "green"

Across the world, the most notorious players in the expansion of industrial agriculture are turning to “green finance” to raise money for themselves. The growing support for regulations on their investments and public control over the financial market has made them look for a solution that keeps the cash and agribusiness commodities flowing but hides the destruction they provoke.

Across the world, the most notorious players in the expansion of industrial agriculture are turning to “green finance” to raise money for themselves. The growing support for regulations on their investments and public control over the financial market has made them look for a solution that keeps the cash and agribusiness commodities flowing but hides the destruction they provoke.

Corporate greenwashing: "net zero" and "nature-based solutions" are a deadly fraud

Corporations are ramping up their greenwashing to head-off any efforts to reign in their GHG emissions. After five years of having done nothing to move towards the already compromised targets established by the 2015 Paris Agreement, dozens of big polluters like Nestlé and Shell are now making "net zero" pledges, mainly to satisfy the public relations needs of the financial players that fund them.

Corporations are ramping up their greenwashing to head-off any efforts to reign in their GHG emissions. After five years of having done nothing to move towards the already compromised targets established by the 2015 Paris Agreement, dozens of big polluters like Nestlé and Shell are now making "net zero" pledges, mainly to satisfy the public relations needs of the financial players that fund them.

Agroecology vs. climate chaos: Farmers leading the battle in Asia

As urgent as the climate crisis is, some of the solutions being promoted from above are misleading. Not only are they not putting us in the right track, they are also exacerbating an array of other problems ranging from poverty to loss of biodiversity. Fortunately, a number of farmers across Asia on the front lines of climate disaster are putting forth a solution that is working and that is also adapted to their socioeconomic circumstances and farming traditions: Agroecology.

As urgent as the climate crisis is, some of the solutions being promoted from above are misleading. Not only are they not putting us in the right track, they are also exacerbating an array of other problems ranging from poverty to loss of biodiversity. Fortunately, a number of farmers across Asia on the front lines of climate disaster are putting forth a solution that is working and that is also adapted to their socioeconomic circumstances and farming traditions: Agroecology.

2020 Report on Climate Change in Argentina. Who dares to call out agribusiness?

Analysis of Argentina's official report on climate change, regarding both its assessments and its proposals, convinced that real solutions will come hand in hand with a profound change in the agro-food system.

Analysis of Argentina's official report on climate change, regarding both its assessments and its proposals, convinced that real solutions will come hand in hand with a profound change in the agro-food system.

"What does factory farming have to do with the climate crisis?" Comic strip edition

The pandemic has turned life on its head and has made us question a whole host of matters, including industrial livestock and the issue of factory farming. This is why we are sharing this comic strip. It offers a simple and clear explanation of why producing livestock in factory farms can be devastating for our planet’s climate.

The pandemic has turned life on its head and has made us question a whole host of matters, including industrial livestock and the issue of factory farming. This is why we are sharing this comic strip. It offers a simple and clear explanation of why producing livestock in factory farms can be devastating for our planet’s climate.

What does factory farming have to do with the climate crisis?

In recent years, GRAIN’s research on the climate impacts of industrial food production has focused more particularly on the contribution of factory farming and its byproducts to global warming. The data come as a shock: taken together, the world’s five largest meat and dairy corporations are responsible for a greater volume of greenhouse gas emissions than oil companies like Exxon, Shell, or BP.

In recent years, GRAIN’s research on the climate impacts of industrial food production has focused more particularly on the contribution of factory farming and its byproducts to global warming. The data come as a shock: taken together, the world’s five largest meat and dairy corporations are responsible for a greater volume of greenhouse gas emissions than oil companies like Exxon, Shell, or BP.

EU-Mercosur trade deal will intensify the climate crisis from agriculture

The EU-Mercosur free trade agreement has been presented as a climate friendly post-Paris agreement trade deal. Yet its central premise is to increase trade in a host of climate-disrupting products like automobiles, industrial beef, ethanol and soybeans. This report calculates the increase in ag commodities production and trade as a result of this deal, and their impact on the climate.

The EU-Mercosur free trade agreement has been presented as a climate friendly post-Paris agreement trade deal. Yet its central premise is to increase trade in a host of climate-disrupting products like automobiles, industrial beef, ethanol and soybeans. This report calculates the increase in ag commodities production and trade as a result of this deal, and their impact on the climate.

Step aside agribusiness, it's time for real solutions to the climate crisis

Big food and agribusiness companies are desperate to portray themselves as part of the solution to the climate crisis. But there is no way to reconcile what's needed to heal our planet with their unflinching commitment to growth.

Big food and agribusiness companies are desperate to portray themselves as part of the solution to the climate crisis. But there is no way to reconcile what's needed to heal our planet with their unflinching commitment to growth.