Iraq's new patent law: a declaration of war against farmers by Focus on the Global South and GRAIN | 15 Oct 2004 For generations, small farmers in Iraq operated in an essentially unregulated, informal seed supply system. Farm-saved seed and the free innovation with and exchange of planting materials among farming communities has long been the basis of agricultural practice. This is now history. The CPA has made it illegal for Iraqi farmers to re-use seeds harvested from new varieties registered under the law. Iraqis may continue to use and save from their traditional seed stocks or what’s left of them after the years of war and drought, but that is the not the agenda for reconstruction embedded in the ruling. The purpose of the law is to facilitate the establishment of a new seed market in Iraq, where transnational corporations can sell their seeds – genetically modified or not, which farmers would have to purchase afresh every single cropping season. For generations, small farmers in Iraq operated in an essentially unregulated, informal seed supply system. Farm-saved seed and the free innovation with and exchange of planting materials among farming communities has long been the basis of agricultural practice. This is now history. The CPA has made it illegal for Iraqi farmers to re-use seeds harvested from new varieties registered under the law. Iraqis may continue to use and save from their traditional seed stocks or what’s left of them after the years of war and drought, but that is the not the agenda for reconstruction embedded in the ruling. The purpose of the law is to facilitate the establishment of a new seed market in Iraq, where transnational corporations can sell their seeds – genetically modified or not, which farmers would have to purchase afresh every single cropping season.
Iraq's new patent law: A declaration of war against farmers by GRAIN | 15 Oct 2004 BIO-IPR (1997-2009)
Monsanto's royalty grab in Argentina by GRAIN | 8 Oct 2004 Or: How corporations get their way with a little help from their friends in government A dramatic comedy in three acts (with more to come) Behind many big promises of "technology transfer" and "feeding the world" lies a brutal truth: biotechnology corporations like Monsanto only care about profits. They are not offering genetically modified (GM) seeds to the South out of charity. They want to take over seed markets and squeeze farmers for as much as they can get - which, even in poor countries, can be a lot. The formula seems to be this: focus on the major cash crops (cotton, soybeans, maize, etc), find an entry point, contaminate the seed supply and then step in to take control. Argentina, the first country outside of North America to start planting GM crops, is a case in point. But the sam e pattern is being reproduced around the world, as with GM cotton in India and West Africa . The story of what has happened in Argentina should serve as a stark warning of what occurs when GM agriculture takes root. Or: How corporations get their way with a little help from their friends in government A dramatic comedy in three acts (with more to come) Behind many big promises of "technology transfer" and "feeding the world" lies a brutal truth: biotechnology corporations like Monsanto only care about profits. They are not offering genetically modified (GM) seeds to the South out of charity. They want to take over seed markets and squeeze farmers for as much as they can get - which, even in poor countries, can be a lot. The formula seems to be this: focus on the major cash crops (cotton, soybeans, maize, etc), find an entry point, contaminate the seed supply and then step in to take control. Argentina, the first country outside of North America to start planting GM crops, is a case in point. But the sam e pattern is being reproduced around the world, as with GM cotton in India and West Africa . The story of what has happened in Argentina should serve as a stark warning of what occurs when GM agriculture takes root.
Paper presented at Kheti Virasat's meeting on Bt.Cotton at Bhatinda on 8-9 Feb.2003 by Bharat Krishak Samaj (Farmers Forum India) | 6 Oct 2004
Official country positions and proposals on TRIPS Article 27.3(b) by GRAIN | 6 Oct 2004 A summary table of official WTO member positions on TRIPS Art. 27.3(b), updated October 2004 A summary table of official WTO member positions on TRIPS Art. 27.3(b), updated October 2004
GMO Crops: A Cautionary Tale by Pennapa Hongthong, The Nation (Jakarta) | 1 Oct 2004 Article reports on the experiences of Bt cotton farmers in Indonesia Article reports on the experiences of Bt cotton farmers in Indonesia
Planters take on Monsanto over seed fees -- and sometimes go to jail by GRAIN | 30 Sep 2004 BIO-IPR (1997-2009)
Elements of the obligation to disclose the source and country of origin of the biological resources and/or traditional knowledge used in an invention by Brazil et al. | 27 Sep 2004 IP/C/W/429/Rev.1 of 27 September 2004 (also endorsed by Bolivia, Colombia and Dominican Republic as of February 2005) IP/C/W/429/Rev.1 of 27 September 2004 (also endorsed by Bolivia, Colombia and Dominican Republic as of February 2005)
Elements of the obligation to disclose the source and country of origin of biological resource and/or traditional knowledge used in an invention by Brazil et al. | 22 Sep 2004 IP/C/W/429 of 21 September 2004 IP/C/W/429 of 21 September 2004
TRIPS Council: developing countries seek to move debate forward on disclosure issues by ICTSD | 22 Sep 2004
Campaign for GM free zones and regions gathers force in Europe by Assembly of European Regions | 14 Sep 2004