Editorial and full issue by GRAIN | 30 Oct 2008 Seedling - October 2008 Download the whole issue of Seedling here, and read a summary of what's in this issue. Download the whole issue of Seedling here, and read a summary of what's in this issue.
Melaku Worede (Interview in English) by GRAIN | 22 Apr 2009 Seedling - April 2009 Dr Melaku Worede is an Ethiopian plant geneticist who has been a pioneer in shifting perceptions and attitudes globally towards recognising the vital importance of on-farm diversity as a strategy to increase and conserve biodiversity. He has always been one of that rare breed: a scientist who puts the farmer first. He is admired by friend and foe alike for his integrity, his deep knowledge, his vision and his humility. Dr Melaku Worede is an Ethiopian plant geneticist who has been a pioneer in shifting perceptions and attitudes globally towards recognising the vital importance of on-farm diversity as a strategy to increase and conserve biodiversity. He has always been one of that rare breed: a scientist who puts the farmer first. He is admired by friend and foe alike for his integrity, his deep knowledge, his vision and his humility.
Media release: Golden rice is no solution to malnutrition by Biothai | GRAIN | SICCFM | PAN AP | 29 Aug 2013 Media releases No one is fooled by concerted efforts of IRRI, Syngenta and national agriculture research institutes to develop Golden Rice as a "poster child" for the GM industry and to get GM foods accepted under the guise of a humanitarian mission. Local communities have the legitimacy and the right to say no to GE crops like Golden Rice and defend their health, environment, territories and livelihoods. No one is fooled by concerted efforts of IRRI, Syngenta and national agriculture research institutes to develop Golden Rice as a "poster child" for the GM industry and to get GM foods accepted under the guise of a humanitarian mission. Local communities have the legitimacy and the right to say no to GE crops like Golden Rice and defend their health, environment, territories and livelihoods.
Asia farmers' network resounds strong call to Stop Golden Rice! by Stop Golden Rice! Network | 8 Aug 2017 Media releases Four years after the first militant uprooting of Golden Rice, waves of protest mobilisations stir anew in the Philippines and Bangladesh against its commercialisation, while debate rages on in Indonesia, India and other Asian countries where Golden Rice is planned for commercial release. Four years after the first militant uprooting of Golden Rice, waves of protest mobilisations stir anew in the Philippines and Bangladesh against its commercialisation, while debate rages on in Indonesia, India and other Asian countries where Golden Rice is planned for commercial release.
How corporate giants are automating the farm by Jim Thomas | 19 Nov 2017 United States | corporations | technologies Self-driving tractors and the internet of cows – welcome to the world of precision agriculture. Jim Thomas of the ETC Group lays out the vision driving corporate giants into a merger frenzy Self-driving tractors and the internet of cows – welcome to the world of precision agriculture. Jim Thomas of the ETC Group lays out the vision driving corporate giants into a merger frenzy
False promises: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) by Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung and others | 10 Jul 2020 An excellent report by a number of German donors and NGOs, with groups in Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and Mali, about the disastrous impact of AGRA on African farmers. The report recommends that donors dump AGRA and fund agroecology instead An excellent report by a number of German donors and NGOs, with groups in Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and Mali, about the disastrous impact of AGRA on African farmers. The report recommends that donors dump AGRA and fund agroecology instead
Development banks make shameless exit from a colonial land grab in the Congo by Collective statement | 1 Mar 2022 As development banks make shameless exit from DRC palm oil company, 30 civil society organisations pledge to continue fighting for redress and return of lands to communities. As development banks make shameless exit from DRC palm oil company, 30 civil society organisations pledge to continue fighting for redress and return of lands to communities.
On seeds: controlling the first link in the food-chain by Nidhi Tandon | 15 Nov 2011 United States | technologies | seeds & biodiversity Thanks to the US’s 2009 Global Food Security Act, food aid policy for the first time mandates the use of genetic modification technologies. Nidhi Tandon looks at how this legislation helps biotechnology companies monopolise the seed industry at the expense of farmers, and explores some of the dubious links between these corporations, the Gates Foundation and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. Good update and overview article Thanks to the US’s 2009 Global Food Security Act, food aid policy for the first time mandates the use of genetic modification technologies. Nidhi Tandon looks at how this legislation helps biotechnology companies monopolise the seed industry at the expense of farmers, and explores some of the dubious links between these corporations, the Gates Foundation and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. Good update and overview article
Agribusiness interests hijack 2021 UN Food Systems Summit by Anuradha Mittal | 12 Nov 2020 A powerful assessment on where the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit is heading. By Anuradha Mittal of the Oakland Institute A powerful assessment on where the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit is heading. By Anuradha Mittal of the Oakland Institute
GM FOODS TURN POLITICAL HOT POTATO by GRAIN | 20 Mar 1999 Seedling - March 1999 A modest experiment in Scotland has catalysed one of the biggest public outcries against GM foods. The scandal has revealed some sinister connections between industry, governments and scientific institutions. A modest experiment in Scotland has catalysed one of the biggest public outcries against GM foods. The scandal has revealed some sinister connections between industry, governments and scientific institutions.
WEMA project shrouded in secrecy: open letter to African governments to be accountable to farmers, civil society by African Centre for Biodiversity | 4 Sep 2017 Kenya | Mozambique | South Africa | Tanzania | Uganda | GMOs The Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project promises to develop drought tolerance in maize for the benefit of small holder farmers, but is really a project designed to facilitate the spread of hybrid and genetically modified (GM) maize varieties on the continent. WEMA involves five African countries: Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. It works through the National Agricultural Research (NAR) agencies of these countries, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and Monsanto. The project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project promises to develop drought tolerance in maize for the benefit of small holder farmers, but is really a project designed to facilitate the spread of hybrid and genetically modified (GM) maize varieties on the continent. WEMA involves five African countries: Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. It works through the National Agricultural Research (NAR) agencies of these countries, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and Monsanto. The project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
Peasant seeds are the way forward for Africa's food sovereignty [EN|FR] by GRAIN | 23 Feb 2007 BIO-IPR (1997-2009)
Seed laws that criminalise farmers: resistance and fightback by La Via Campesina | GRAIN | 8 Apr 2015 Seeds Seeds are under attack everywhere. Under corporate pressure, laws in many countries increasingly put limitations on what farmers can do with their seeds and with the seeds they buy. Seed saving, a thousand-year-old practice which forms the basis of farming, is fast becoming criminalised. What can we do about this? Seeds are under attack everywhere. Under corporate pressure, laws in many countries increasingly put limitations on what farmers can do with their seeds and with the seeds they buy. Seed saving, a thousand-year-old practice which forms the basis of farming, is fast becoming criminalised. What can we do about this?
Seed aid, agribusiness and the food crisis by GRAIN | 28 Oct 2008 Seedling - October 2008 The world food crisis, rapidly defined by those in power as a problem of insufficient production, has become a trojan horse to get corporate seeds, fertilisers and, surreptitiously, market systems into poor countries. As past experience shows, what looks like “seed aid” in the short term can mask what is actually “agribusiness aid” in the long term. We look at what is going on. The world food crisis, rapidly defined by those in power as a problem of insufficient production, has become a trojan horse to get corporate seeds, fertilisers and, surreptitiously, market systems into poor countries. As past experience shows, what looks like “seed aid” in the short term can mask what is actually “agribusiness aid” in the long term. We look at what is going on.
