Sprouting Up: Contamination by GM maize found in nine states in Mexico

Studies undertaken by a number of NGOs in Mexico have found widespread genetic contamination of maize fields with genetically modified (GM) material in nine states: Chihuahua, Morelos, Durango, Mexico State, Puebla, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosí, Tlaxcala and Veracruz. The analysis were carried on 2,000 plants (in 411 groups of samples), from 138 farming and indigenous communities. In 33 communities (24% of total samples), the tests found some presence of transgenes in native maize. The results show percentages of contamination that run from 1.5% to 33.3%, in a second round of analysis.

Studies undertaken by a number of NGOs in Mexico have found widespread genetic contamination of maize fields with genetically modified (GM) material in nine states: Chihuahua, Morelos, Durango, Mexico State, Puebla, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosí, Tlaxcala and Veracruz. The analysis were carried on 2,000 plants (in 411 groups of samples), from 138 farming and indigenous communities. In 33 communities (24% of total samples), the tests found some presence of transgenes in native maize. The results show percentages of contamination that run from 1.5% to 33.3%, in a second round of analysis.

Sprouting Up: European farmers plan new campaign for farmers' seeds

A new, exciting and long-overdue initiative to help farmers save, use and share their seeds is taking off in Europe. In Paris, France, on 13 November, the Réseau Semences Paysannes of France and Red de Semillas of Spain organised a workshop entitled Farmer Seeds: rebuilding autonomy in Europe. The workshop was part of the seminar GMOs, patents and seed monopolies: resistance and proposed alternatives in Europe which was part of the European Social Forum.

A new, exciting and long-overdue initiative to help farmers save, use and share their seeds is taking off in Europe. In Paris, France, on 13 November, the Réseau Semences Paysannes of France and Red de Semillas of Spain organised a workshop entitled Farmer Seeds: rebuilding autonomy in Europe. The workshop was part of the seminar GMOs, patents and seed monopolies: resistance and proposed alternatives in Europe which was part of the European Social Forum.

Information Feudalism: Who Owns the Knowledge Economy?

We need more books like Information Feudalism. This important review of the history of intellectual property rights (IPRs) puts into perspective the pressure that we are all being subjected to by the push for stronger and stronger property rights over intangible assets. By “information feudalism” the authors refer to a project of visionaries that is currently being contested.

We need more books like Information Feudalism. This important review of the history of intellectual property rights (IPRs) puts into perspective the pressure that we are all being subjected to by the push for stronger and stronger property rights over intangible assets. By “information feudalism” the authors refer to a project of visionaries that is currently being contested.

Bt-cotton productivity considerations from India and China

Presentation to the Deutscher Tropentag Conference on International Agricultural Research for Development, Gottingen, October 8-10, 2003. It highlights some of the limitations with previous studies.

Presentation to the Deutscher Tropentag Conference on International Agricultural Research for Development, Gottingen, October 8-10, 2003. It highlights some of the limitations with previous studies.