Bubble bursts on next generation biofuels by Bloomberg | 9 Jul 2013 corporations Investments in next generation biofuels have shrunk from a high of US$7.6 billion in the last quarter of 2007 to US$57 million in the 1st quarter of 2013, leaving future demand to continue being met by the use of food crops. Investments in next generation biofuels have shrunk from a high of US$7.6 billion in the last quarter of 2007 to US$57 million in the 1st quarter of 2013, leaving future demand to continue being met by the use of food crops.
US Embassy must be open and transparent on GMO debate in Ghana by Food Sovereignty Ghana | 9 Jul 2013 Ghana | technologies | seeds & biodiversity Following our call for a moratorium on genetically modified foods and crops in Ghana, Food Sovereignty Ghana has received an invitation from the US Embassy in Accra to a CLOSED DOOR “Roundtable Discussion and an Interdisciplinary Presentation on Biotechnology at the US Embassy on July 10”. Following our call for a moratorium on genetically modified foods and crops in Ghana, Food Sovereignty Ghana has received an invitation from the US Embassy in Accra to a CLOSED DOOR “Roundtable Discussion and an Interdisciplinary Presentation on Biotechnology at the US Embassy on July 10”.
Global threat to food supply as water wells dry up, warns top environment expert by John Vidal | 8 Jul 2013 food crisis | China | Saudi Arabia | United States Grain harvests are already shrinking as US, India and China come close to 'peak water', says the Global Policy Institute's Lester Brown Grain harvests are already shrinking as US, India and China come close to 'peak water', says the Global Policy Institute's Lester Brown
The United Republic of Soybeans: take two by GRAIN | 2 Jul 2013 “The United Republic of Soybeans.” That’s the patronizing moniker given to the entire Southern Cone − comprising the countries of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia − by the Syngenta Corporation in a 2003 advertisement in the rural supplements of the Argentine papers Clarín and La Nación. It’s an open statement of the neocolonialist fervour with which these companies are attempting to dominate this region of the world. “The United Republic of Soybeans.” That’s the patronizing moniker given to the entire Southern Cone − comprising the countries of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia − by the Syngenta Corporation in a 2003 advertisement in the rural supplements of the Argentine papers Clarín and La Nación. It’s an open statement of the neocolonialist fervour with which these companies are attempting to dominate this region of the world.
Choice of Monsanto Betrays World Food Prize Purpose, Say Global Leaders by Francis Moore Lappé and Anna Lappé | 27 Jun 2013 seeds & biodiversity In honoring the seed biotechnology industry, this year's World Food Prize -- to many, the most prestigious prize in food and agriculture -- betrays the award's own mandate to emphasize "the importance of a nutritious and sustainable food supply for all people." In honoring the seed biotechnology industry, this year's World Food Prize -- to many, the most prestigious prize in food and agriculture -- betrays the award's own mandate to emphasize "the importance of a nutritious and sustainable food supply for all people."
Paraguayan indigenous community reoccupies territory after two decades of forced expulsion by Real News | 23 Jun 2013 Paraguay | land grabbing Indigenous families in Paraguay have been living precariously on the side of a highway in the remote Chaco region for more than 20 years, ever since a German cattle rancher and the Paraguayan state illegally kicked them off of their ancestral lands. Video report by Real News. Indigenous families in Paraguay have been living precariously on the side of a highway in the remote Chaco region for more than 20 years, ever since a German cattle rancher and the Paraguayan state illegally kicked them off of their ancestral lands. Video report by Real News.
China’s Great Uprooting: Moving 250 Million Into Cities by Ian Jonhson | 17 Jun 2013 China China is pushing ahead with a sweeping plan to move 250 million rural residents into newly constructed towns and cities over the next dozen years — a transformative event that could set off a new wave of growth or saddle the country with problems for generations to come. But: who is going to produce the food in China, if its farmers are moved to the cities? An article by Ian Jonhson of the New York Times. China is pushing ahead with a sweeping plan to move 250 million rural residents into newly constructed towns and cities over the next dozen years — a transformative event that could set off a new wave of growth or saddle the country with problems for generations to come. But: who is going to produce the food in China, if its farmers are moved to the cities? An article by Ian Jonhson of the New York Times.
Africa, let us help – just like in 1884 by George Monbiot | 11 Jun 2013 United Kingdom | land grabbing | corporations From the Conference of Berlin to today's G8, 'helping' Africans looks suspiciously like grabbing their resources. An excellent take on the G8 plans to help Africa, by George Monbiot. From the Conference of Berlin to today's G8, 'helping' Africans looks suspiciously like grabbing their resources. An excellent take on the G8 plans to help Africa, by George Monbiot.
Media release: End intimidation around Sierra Leone oil palm project by Green Scenery, Oakland Institute, GRAIN and others | 3 Jun 2013 Media releases Groups around the world accuse European business magnates Vincent Bolloré and Hubert Fabri of using intimidation to silence local opposition to an African land grab. Groups around the world accuse European business magnates Vincent Bolloré and Hubert Fabri of using intimidation to silence local opposition to an African land grab.
Open Letter from Mozambican civil society organisations and movements to the presidents of Mozambique and Brazil and the Prime Minister of Japan by UNAC et al | 3 Jun 2013 Brazil | Japan | Mozambique | land grabbing The sweeping scope of the ProSavana programme stands in contrast to the total absence of a broad, transparent and democratic public debate over it, preventing small-scale farmers and their families from exercising their constitutional right of access to information, consultation, participation and informed consent on a matter of great social, economic and environmental relevance. The sweeping scope of the ProSavana programme stands in contrast to the total absence of a broad, transparent and democratic public debate over it, preventing small-scale farmers and their families from exercising their constitutional right of access to information, consultation, participation and informed consent on a matter of great social, economic and environmental relevance.
Our man in Sudan by Aljazeera | 1 Jun 2013 Sudan | land grabbing | corporations An ex-Wall Street banker jets off to South Sudan to show how investors are rushing to Africa in a modern-day land-grab. A fascinationg Aljazeera video. An ex-Wall Street banker jets off to South Sudan to show how investors are rushing to Africa in a modern-day land-grab. A fascinationg Aljazeera video.
Modernising African agriculture: who benefits? by ACB, AFSA and others | 17 May 2013 corporations | technologies | actions African civil society organisations are up in arms about the new corporate and donor initiatives to 'help' Africa. They have launched an appeal against the plans of the G8, AGRA, and others to drive corporate agriculture into the continent. Read and support their appeal online. (also in French and Portuguese) African civil society organisations are up in arms about the new corporate and donor initiatives to 'help' Africa. They have launched an appeal against the plans of the G8, AGRA, and others to drive corporate agriculture into the continent. Read and support their appeal online. (also in French and Portuguese)
Hands off our maize! Resistance to GMOs in Mexico by GRAIN | 16 May 2013 A broad mobilisation of students, peasants, indigenous networks, scientists and both national and international organisations has succeeded in blocking the release of GM maize in Mexico, the centre of origin for one of humanity's four most important crops. A broad mobilisation of students, peasants, indigenous networks, scientists and both national and international organisations has succeeded in blocking the release of GM maize in Mexico, the centre of origin for one of humanity's four most important crops.
GMOs: Fooling – er, "feeding" – the world for 20 years by GRAIN | 15 May 2013 Myths and outright lies about the alleged benefits of genetically engineered crops (GE crops or GMOs) persist only because the multinationals that profit from them have put so much effort into spreading them around. They want you to believe that GMOs will feed the world; that they are more productive; that they will eliminate the use of agrichemicals; that they can coexist with other crops, and that they are perfectly safe for humans and the environment. False in every case. Myths and outright lies about the alleged benefits of genetically engineered crops (GE crops or GMOs) persist only because the multinationals that profit from them have put so much effort into spreading them around. They want you to believe that GMOs will feed the world; that they are more productive; that they will eliminate the use of agrichemicals; that they can coexist with other crops, and that they are perfectly safe for humans and the environment. False in every case.
Leaked ProSAVANA Master Plan confirms worst fears by Justiça Ambiental! et al | 30 Apr 2013 Civil society groups have finally seen a leaked copy of the most recent version of the Master Plan for the ProSAVANA programme, dated March 2013. The copy confirms that the governments of Japan, Brazil and Mozambique are secretly paving the way for a massive land grab in Northern Mozambique. Civil society groups have finally seen a leaked copy of the most recent version of the Master Plan for the ProSAVANA programme, dated March 2013. The copy confirms that the governments of Japan, Brazil and Mozambique are secretly paving the way for a massive land grab in Northern Mozambique.