FROM THE EDITORS by GRAIN | 25 Jun 1996 Seedling - June 1996 Facing up to the negotiations in FAO and the Convention on Biological Diversity this year, the Editors wrap up the three articles in this issue related to the industrialisation of agriculture and commodification of genetic resources with a brief reflection on the Global Plan of Action which is up for discussion this month in Leipzig. Facing up to the negotiations in FAO and the Convention on Biological Diversity this year, the Editors wrap up the three articles in this issue related to the industrialisation of agriculture and commodification of genetic resources with a brief reflection on the Global Plan of Action which is up for discussion this month in Leipzig.
EX SITU CONSERVATION: WHEN THE FRIDGE BREAKS DOWN by GRAIN | 20 Jun 1996 Seedling - June 1996 The Report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources recently published by FAO confirms what NGOs have been arguing for years: the seeds are not necessarily safe in the genebanks. The Report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources recently published by FAO confirms what NGOs have been arguing for years: the seeds are not necessarily safe in the genebanks.
CGIAR RENEWAL: BEYOND CATCHY WORDING? by GRAIN | 15 Jun 1996 Seedling - June 1996 Evidence keeps accumulating to demonstrate that Green Revolution agriculture is unsustainable and that industrial agriculture is in crisis. However, a close look at the `renewal process' the CGIAR claims to have gone through leaves NGOs wondering if the new CGIAR agenda will not lead to more of the same. Evidence keeps accumulating to demonstrate that Green Revolution agriculture is unsustainable and that industrial agriculture is in crisis. However, a close look at the `renewal process' the CGIAR claims to have gone through leaves NGOs wondering if the new CGIAR agenda will not lead to more of the same.
UPOV: GETTING A FREE TRIPs RIDE? by GRAIN | 11 Jun 1996 Seedling - June 1996 Developing countries are being pressured by industrialised countries and the GATT-related TRIPs agreements to urgently adopt UPOV-like legislation providing for intellectual property rights on plant varieties. Yet governments should realise that they have both time and other options. Developing countries are being pressured by industrialised countries and the GATT-related TRIPs agreements to urgently adopt UPOV-like legislation providing for intellectual property rights on plant varieties. Yet governments should realise that they have both time and other options.