GèNOPLANTE: A STRATEGIC ERROR by Jean Pierre Berlan <i>et al.</i> | 15 Sep 1999 Seedling - September 1999 A major new research initiative in France designed to bring together agribusiness and public research institutions threatens to stifle independent public research and direct it towards the interests of agribusiness. A major new research initiative in France designed to bring together agribusiness and public research institutions threatens to stifle independent public research and direct it towards the interests of agribusiness.
Intellectual Property Rights: Ultimate control of agricultural R&D in Asia by Devlin Kuyek, Biothai (Thailand), GRAIN, KMP (Philippines), MASIPAG (Philippines), PAN Indonesia, Philippine Greens and UBINIG (Bangladesh), Dr Romeo Quijano and Dr Oscar B. Zamora | 25 Mar 2001
Privatising the Means for Survival: The commercialisation of Africa's biodiversity by Rachel Wynberg, Biowatch, South Africa with contributions from GAIA/GRAIN | 20 May 2000
FIELDS OF DREAMS: GENE TECH GOES SOUTH by GRAIN | 15 Sep 1998 Seedling - September 1998 The agrobusiness giants are dreaming of transforming huge tracts of South America into a Southern equivalent of the US Great Plains. Dreams are fast turning into reality as export revenues seduce governments into the game. The agrobusiness giants are dreaming of transforming huge tracts of South America into a Southern equivalent of the US Great Plains. Dreams are fast turning into reality as export revenues seduce governments into the game.
Resources by GRAIN | 1 Oct 2002 Seedling - October 2002 We review 17 reports and books in the October issue of Seedling, under headings of Genetic Engineering, IPR, Sustainable Agriculture, Agricultural Trade and Unfair Subsidies, Genetic Resources, and People and Processes. We review 17 reports and books in the October issue of Seedling, under headings of Genetic Engineering, IPR, Sustainable Agriculture, Agricultural Trade and Unfair Subsidies, Genetic Resources, and People and Processes.
The cost of industrial meat: displacement, conflict and environmental destruction by GRAIN | 16 Oct 2024 Corporations The meat industry is in the hands of a few companies that control a market worth over US$200 billion. In Latin America, these groups threaten, displace and criminalise local communities. The meat industry is in the hands of a few companies that control a market worth over US$200 billion. In Latin America, these groups threaten, displace and criminalise local communities.
Biofortified crops or biodiversity? The fight for genuine solutions to malnutrition is on by GRAIN | 4 Jun 2019 Seeds GRAIN took a look at the current status of biofortification in Asia, Africa and Latin America and the emerging critiques from feminist perspectives and food sovereignty movements. What we found is a worrisome push for a top-down and anti-diversity approach to food and health that may ultimately undermine people’s capacities to strengthen their local food systems. GRAIN took a look at the current status of biofortification in Asia, Africa and Latin America and the emerging critiques from feminist perspectives and food sovereignty movements. What we found is a worrisome push for a top-down and anti-diversity approach to food and health that may ultimately undermine people’s capacities to strengthen their local food systems.
Argentina's torrid love affair with the soybean by Lilian Joensen and Stella Semino | 26 Oct 2004 Seedling - October 2004 Soybean production in Argentina has increased from 0.01 million to more than 14 million hectares in 30 years, making it the world's third largest producer. The rise of the soybean has been accompanied by massive increases in hunger and malnutrition in a country long accustomed to producing 10 times as much food as the population required. The consequences of growing GM soya include a massive exodus from the countryside and ecological devastation. Now soya is being imposed on Argentineans as an alternative to traditional foods. Despite all indications to the contrary, the government continues to see the export of GM soya as key to servicing the country's massive debt. Soybean production in Argentina has increased from 0.01 million to more than 14 million hectares in 30 years, making it the world's third largest producer. The rise of the soybean has been accompanied by massive increases in hunger and malnutrition in a country long accustomed to producing 10 times as much food as the population required. The consequences of growing GM soya include a massive exodus from the countryside and ecological devastation. Now soya is being imposed on Argentineans as an alternative to traditional foods. Despite all indications to the contrary, the government continues to see the export of GM soya as key to servicing the country's massive debt.
Fowl play: The poultry industry's central role in the bird flu crisis by GRAIN | 26 Feb 2006 Backyard or free-range poultry are not fuelling the current wave of bird flu outbreaks stalking large parts of the world. The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu is essentially a problem of industrial poultry practices. Its epicentre is the factory farms of China and Southeast Asia and -- while wild birds can carry the disease, at least for short distances -- its main vector is the highly self-regulated transnational poultry industry, which sends the products and waste of its farms around the world through a multitude of channels. Yet small poultry farmers and the poultry biodiversity and local food security that they sustain are suffering badly from the fall-out. To make matters worse, governments and international agencies, following mistaken assumptions about how the disease spreads and amplifies, are pursuing measures to force poultry indoors and further industrialise the poultry sector. In practice, this means the end of the small-scale poultry farming that provides food and livelihoods to hundreds of millions of families across the world. This paper presents a fresh perspective on the bird flu story that challenges current assumptions and puts the focus back where it should be: on the transnational poultry industry. Backyard or free-range poultry are not fuelling the current wave of bird flu outbreaks stalking large parts of the world. The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu is essentially a problem of industrial poultry practices. Its epicentre is the factory farms of China and Southeast Asia and -- while wild birds can carry the disease, at least for short distances -- its main vector is the highly self-regulated transnational poultry industry, which sends the products and waste of its farms around the world through a multitude of channels. Yet small poultry farmers and the poultry biodiversity and local food security that they sustain are suffering badly from the fall-out. To make matters worse, governments and international agencies, following mistaken assumptions about how the disease spreads and amplifies, are pursuing measures to force poultry indoors and further industrialise the poultry sector. In practice, this means the end of the small-scale poultry farming that provides food and livelihoods to hundreds of millions of families across the world. This paper presents a fresh perspective on the bird flu story that challenges current assumptions and puts the focus back where it should be: on the transnational poultry industry.