ARIPO’S plant variety protection law criminalises farmers and undermines seed systems in Africa by Allliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa | 18 Oct 2013 seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa is gravely concerned about a draft law developed under the auspices of the Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), dealing with a harmonised regional legal framework for the protection of plant breeders’ rights, titled ‘Draft Regional Policy and Legal Framework for Plant Variety Protection’. ARIPO is in the process of seeking the approval of its Member States to adopt the legal framework, possibly at the next ARIPO Administrative Council and Council of Ministers meeting due to take place 25–29 November 2013 in Kampala, Uganda. The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa is gravely concerned about a draft law developed under the auspices of the Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), dealing with a harmonised regional legal framework for the protection of plant breeders’ rights, titled ‘Draft Regional Policy and Legal Framework for Plant Variety Protection’. ARIPO is in the process of seeking the approval of its Member States to adopt the legal framework, possibly at the next ARIPO Administrative Council and Council of Ministers meeting due to take place 25–29 November 2013 in Kampala, Uganda.
Apomixis: the plant breeder's dream by GRAIN | 26 Sep 2001 Seedling - September 2001 In discussions of the benefits genetic engineering can bring to small farmers, proponents love to point to apomixis - the production of cloned seed. This article examines apomixis research, and the main implications that transferring apomixis into crops may have for industry, farmers and the environment. It also looks at how the apomixis research agenda is being up led by the private sector through patent applications, licensing agreements and confidential research projects. In discussions of the benefits genetic engineering can bring to small farmers, proponents love to point to apomixis - the production of cloned seed. This article examines apomixis research, and the main implications that transferring apomixis into crops may have for industry, farmers and the environment. It also looks at how the apomixis research agenda is being up led by the private sector through patent applications, licensing agreements and confidential research projects.
ANIMAL ALARM by GRAIN | 28 Mar 1994 Seedling - March 1994 The UN 's Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, has released a new and important alarm. Not only is the vital diversity of our crops and forests succumbing to erosion under the guise of “development” programmes, but one-third of the 4,000 or so breeds of animals used worldwide for food and farming are dangerously flirting with extinction. The issues surrounding animal genetic resources parallel in many ways the problems that have been plaguing plant genetic resources. However, we know a lot less about it. Animals — domesticated and wild — are extremely important components of people 's livelihoods systems. In this article we give a background overview of the status of animal genetic diversity and resource use, and what is being done to safeguard and improve the benefits people can derive through the riches of the animal world. The UN 's Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, has released a new and important alarm. Not only is the vital diversity of our crops and forests succumbing to erosion under the guise of “development” programmes, but one-third of the 4,000 or so breeds of animals used worldwide for food and farming are dangerously flirting with extinction. The issues surrounding animal genetic resources parallel in many ways the problems that have been plaguing plant genetic resources. However, we know a lot less about it. Animals — domesticated and wild — are extremely important components of people 's livelihoods systems. In this article we give a background overview of the status of animal genetic diversity and resource use, and what is being done to safeguard and improve the benefits people can derive through the riches of the animal world.
Food safety in the EU-US trade agreement: going outside the box by GRAIN | 10 Dec 2013 Two dinosaurs of world trade – the United States and the European Union – have begun talks on a bilateral free trade agreement in order to boost jobs and economic growth in their largely depressed economies. There is nothing in the proposals that will serve consumers or the public interest. It is all about reducing the hoops for agribusiness. Two dinosaurs of world trade – the United States and the European Union – have begun talks on a bilateral free trade agreement in order to boost jobs and economic growth in their largely depressed economies. There is nothing in the proposals that will serve consumers or the public interest. It is all about reducing the hoops for agribusiness.
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?
ISAAA in Asia: Promoting corporate profits in the name of the poor 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 Oct 2000
Hybrid rice in Asia: An unfolding threat by Devlin Kuyek, Biothai (Thailand), GRAIN, KMP (Philippines), MASIPAG and Dr Oscar B. Zamora(Philippines), PAN Indonesia, Philippine Greens and UBINIG (Bangladesh), Dr Romeo Quijano | 20 Mar 2000
The real seeds producers: Small-scale farmers save, use, share and enhance the seed diversity of the crops that feed Africa by GRAIN and the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) | 29 Oct 2018 Seeds The picture often painted for us is that we need corporate seeds to feed the world: they are alleged to be more efficient, productive and predictable. Locally developed farmer varieties are painted as backwards, less-productive and disease-ridden. But those of us with our feet on the ground know that this is not the reality in Africa. Just to start with a sobering fact: the vast bulk of food produced on the continent comes from homegrown farmers’ seeds (some studies put the figure at 80%). If these seeds are so “backward,” what moves farmers to keep preserving and planting them? What benefits do they derive from them? What challenges do they encounter in this effort? How must they be supported so that they can do their work more effectively? AFSA and GRAIN decided to find out. We work with numerous partner organisations across the continent, many of them involved in local seed diversity activities. AFSA along with many other civil society organisations (CSO) on the continent have adopted the term farmer-managed seed systems (FMSS) to acknowledge certain practices that have been dismissed as “informal” by some. The picture often painted for us is that we need corporate seeds to feed the world: they are alleged to be more efficient, productive and predictable. Locally developed farmer varieties are painted as backwards, less-productive and disease-ridden. But those of us with our feet on the ground know that this is not the reality in Africa. Just to start with a sobering fact: the vast bulk of food produced on the continent comes from homegrown farmers’ seeds (some studies put the figure at 80%). If these seeds are so “backward,” what moves farmers to keep preserving and planting them? What benefits do they derive from them? What challenges do they encounter in this effort? How must they be supported so that they can do their work more effectively? AFSA and GRAIN decided to find out. We work with numerous partner organisations across the continent, many of them involved in local seed diversity activities. AFSA along with many other civil society organisations (CSO) on the continent have adopted the term farmer-managed seed systems (FMSS) to acknowledge certain practices that have been dismissed as “informal” by some.
Whose agenda? The corporate takeover of corn in SE Asia by Biothai, GRAIN, MASIPAG and PAN Indonesia | 25 Aug 1999
WILL THE U.S. BREADBASKET LAST? by GRAIN | 20 Dec 1997 Seedling - December 1997 US trade and agriculture representatives like to present the US as the world's breadbasket, consistently producing ever-increasing amounts of safe and nutritious food for a hungry world. Close examination finds instead, that the endless drive to maximise production is taking its toll, on both US society and the environment. US trade and agriculture representatives like to present the US as the world's breadbasket, consistently producing ever-increasing amounts of safe and nutritious food for a hungry world. Close examination finds instead, that the endless drive to maximise production is taking its toll, on both US society and the environment.
THE CHICKPEA SCANDAL: TRUST OR CONSEQUENCES? by RAFI | 15 Mar 1998 Seedling - March 1998 A squabble over chickpeas is turning into a moratorium on intellectual property claims on CGIAR germplasm and calls for an External Review of UPOV and the world's faulty Plant Breeders Rights regime. A squabble over chickpeas is turning into a moratorium on intellectual property claims on CGIAR germplasm and calls for an External Review of UPOV and the world's faulty Plant Breeders Rights regime.
BIODIVERSE FARMING PRODUCES MORE by GRAIN | 20 Oct 1997 Seedling - October 1997 A wealth of evidence demonstrates that biodiverse farming can compete with industrial agriculture in terms of system-wide productivity and that it offers the important advantages of sustainability and risk reduction. GRAIN examines the case that the formal sector can no longer ignore. A wealth of evidence demonstrates that biodiverse farming can compete with industrial agriculture in terms of system-wide productivity and that it offers the important advantages of sustainability and risk reduction. GRAIN examines the case that the formal sector can no longer ignore.