Transgenic corruption by Darío Aranda | 20 Jun 2017 Argentina | corporations | seeds & biodiversity The agency that approves GM crops in Argentina is stuffed with employees of GMO-producing agroindustrial companies and scientists with conflicts of interest. The agency that approves GM crops in Argentina is stuffed with employees of GMO-producing agroindustrial companies and scientists with conflicts of interest.
How RCEP affects food and farmers by GRAIN | 19 Jun 2017 Corporations The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a mega-regional trade deal being negotiated among 16 countries across Asia-Pacific. If adopted, RCEP will cover half the world’s population, including 420 million small family farms that produce 80% of the region’s food. RCEP is expected to create powerful new rights and lucrative business opportunities for food and agriculture corporations under the guise of boosting trade and investment. Several RCEP countries are also part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), another mega-regional agreement setting some of the most pro-big business terms seen in trade and investment deals so far. While the fate of the TPP is uncertain, these two agreements may have to co-exist and there is pressure to align them on numerous points. What will this mean for food and farmers in the region? The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a mega-regional trade deal being negotiated among 16 countries across Asia-Pacific. If adopted, RCEP will cover half the world’s population, including 420 million small family farms that produce 80% of the region’s food. RCEP is expected to create powerful new rights and lucrative business opportunities for food and agriculture corporations under the guise of boosting trade and investment. Several RCEP countries are also part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), another mega-regional agreement setting some of the most pro-big business terms seen in trade and investment deals so far. While the fate of the TPP is uncertain, these two agreements may have to co-exist and there is pressure to align them on numerous points. What will this mean for food and farmers in the region?
The right to seeds: a fundamental right for small farmers! by Coordination SUD | 12 Jun 2017 food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity Without seeds, there is no agriculture. Since the beginning of farming, over 10,000 years ago, farmers have selected the best seeds from their harvests to plant in the next season, to exchange, or to sell informally. In this way they select the plants, from the varieties they have, that really correspond to their needs and to the usual diet of the local population. Owing to this selection, these varieties evolve over the years to adapt to the soil in which they grow and to climate changes. These practices are thus conducive to constant improvement and diversification of the biodiversity cultivated. Without seeds, there is no agriculture. Since the beginning of farming, over 10,000 years ago, farmers have selected the best seeds from their harvests to plant in the next season, to exchange, or to sell informally. In this way they select the plants, from the varieties they have, that really correspond to their needs and to the usual diet of the local population. Owing to this selection, these varieties evolve over the years to adapt to the soil in which they grow and to climate changes. These practices are thus conducive to constant improvement and diversification of the biodiversity cultivated.
Cambodia: communities in protracted struggle against Chinese sugar companies’ land grab by CNA, Ponlok Khmer, GRAIN, CIYA and AIPP | 8 Jun 2017 Land A new joint report from Community Network in Action (CNA), Ponlok Khmer, GRAIN, Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA), and the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) exposes the devastating consequences of land grabs for indigenous communities in Preah Vihear province, northern Cambodia. A new joint report from Community Network in Action (CNA), Ponlok Khmer, GRAIN, Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA), and the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) exposes the devastating consequences of land grabs for indigenous communities in Preah Vihear province, northern Cambodia.
A critical look at the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN) in Senegal by Canadian Food Security Policy Group | 2 Jun 2017 Canada | Senegal | laws & policies Canada’s support for the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN) in Senegal has demonstrated that this model of public-private partnership is not necessarily the most effective way to meet development goals. This is according to research conducted in Senegal and Canada by the Canadian Food Security Policy Group (FSPG). Canada’s support for the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN) in Senegal has demonstrated that this model of public-private partnership is not necessarily the most effective way to meet development goals. This is according to research conducted in Senegal and Canada by the Canadian Food Security Policy Group (FSPG).
Pressure on at Bolloré's 2017 annual general meeting by GRAIN | 1 Jun 2017 Land | Media releases The struggle to resolve conflicts around land deals continues. Yesterday it was at Socfin’s general assembly in Luxembourg, and today it was at Bolloré’s in Paris. The struggle to resolve conflicts around land deals continues. Yesterday it was at Socfin’s general assembly in Luxembourg, and today it was at Bolloré’s in Paris.
"Food safety" as a weapon against small food vendors and producers by GRAIN | 31 May 2017 Corporations | Supermarket Watch Concerns about food safety and hygiene have underpinned some governments’ decision to ban street vendors and close down fresh markets in recent years. Bangkok’s street vendors are the latest victims of this ban as the city government announced it will clean out all street vendors by the end of 2017. Concerns about food safety and hygiene have underpinned some governments’ decision to ban street vendors and close down fresh markets in recent years. Bangkok’s street vendors are the latest victims of this ban as the city government announced it will clean out all street vendors by the end of 2017.
Open letter: why WHO should address industrial animal farming by Scott Weathers and Sophie Hermanns | 25 May 2017 corporations | food crisis An open letter released this week and signed by over 200 scientists, policy experts and others, urges the new Director General of the World Health Organization to recognize and address factory farming as a public health challenge. An open letter released this week and signed by over 200 scientists, policy experts and others, urges the new Director General of the World Health Organization to recognize and address factory farming as a public health challenge.
Urgent action to help GM-free Ecuador by Red por una América Latina Libre de Transgénicos (RALLT) | 23 May 2017 Ecuador | seeds & biodiversity | GMOs The Constitution of Ecuador declared the country "Free of Transgenic Seeds and Crops". Now, a few days after finishing his term, outgoing President Correa vetoes the seeds law, which would allow transgenic seeds and crops to enter Ecuador for research purposes. The Constitution of Ecuador declared the country "Free of Transgenic Seeds and Crops". Now, a few days after finishing his term, outgoing President Correa vetoes the seeds law, which would allow transgenic seeds and crops to enter Ecuador for research purposes.
Seeds of rural renewal sown in Senegal by Cissokho Lassana, IRIN | 19 May 2017 Senegal | climate crisis | seeds & biodiversity For several decades, the prospect of a better life has prompted countless inhabitants of rural parts of Africa to head to cities. In Senegal’s Fuladu region, a local initiative aimed at making agriculture more viable aims to reverse that trend. It revolves around seeds. For several decades, the prospect of a better life has prompted countless inhabitants of rural parts of Africa to head to cities. In Senegal’s Fuladu region, a local initiative aimed at making agriculture more viable aims to reverse that trend. It revolves around seeds.
20 years of GM soy in the Southern Cone of Latin America, 20 reasons for a definitive ban by GRAIN | 17 May 2017 Seeds The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) has just published its annual report, which confirms that the Southern Cone of Latin America is the region of the world producing the largest quantity of GMOs and having the largest land area under a single monoculture (over 54 million hectares of GM soy in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Bolivia). The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) has just published its annual report, which confirms that the Southern Cone of Latin America is the region of the world producing the largest quantity of GMOs and having the largest land area under a single monoculture (over 54 million hectares of GM soy in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Bolivia).
Women and traditional oil palm: a struggle for life by World Rainforest Movement | 17 May 2017 Cameroon | land grabbing | food sovereignty Marie Crescence Ngobo coordinates the Sustainable Development Actors Network in Cameroon (RADD, by its French acronym). RADD works with women on economic and social issues, organising activities that help women regain their identity and autonomy, in order to improve their families’ living conditions. Marie Crescence Ngobo coordinates the Sustainable Development Actors Network in Cameroon (RADD, by its French acronym). RADD works with women on economic and social issues, organising activities that help women regain their identity and autonomy, in order to improve their families’ living conditions.
“Green” oil palm plantations are a scam: the case of OLAM by World Rainforest Movement, GRAIN | 16 May 2017 corporations | Gabon | Indonesia How do major oil palm companies manage to get their palm oil sold as a “green”, “sustainable” and “climate-friendly” product when it is none of that? How does this green image help corporations to expand even further, as is happening now in Africa? This article looks into the case of OLAM International, which in February 2017 published its Draft Global Policy on Forests. OLAM’s promising words are merely a smokescreen around what is still its main objective: increasing profits. How do major oil palm companies manage to get their palm oil sold as a “green”, “sustainable” and “climate-friendly” product when it is none of that? How does this green image help corporations to expand even further, as is happening now in Africa? This article looks into the case of OLAM International, which in February 2017 published its Draft Global Policy on Forests. OLAM’s promising words are merely a smokescreen around what is still its main objective: increasing profits.
Declaration of the international meetings of the resistances to GMOs by Food Sovereignty Ghana | 9 May 2017 France | seeds & biodiversity | GMOs About 130 people from 28 countries participated at the second International Convergence of the Resistance against GMOs. About 130 people from 28 countries participated at the second International Convergence of the Resistance against GMOs.
Two ways to tackle livestock’s contribution to the climate crisis by GRAIN and IATP | 25 Apr 2017 Climate We cannot address climate change without reducing the production and consumption of industrial meat and dairy. Learn more in this fact sheet drawn up by GRAIN and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. We cannot address climate change without reducing the production and consumption of industrial meat and dairy. Learn more in this fact sheet drawn up by GRAIN and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.