Genetically Modified Crops in African Agriculture: Implications for Small Farmers by Devlin Kuyek | 3 Aug 2002 The briefing looks at the push to bring genetically modified (GM) crops and technologies to Africa and shows the implications for farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa. Is this new technology appropriate for African agricultural systems and what are the implications if it is taken up? What will the introduction of GM crops mean for Africa and its small farmers in particular? Is there any reason to believe that the new gene revolution will be any more successful than the failed Green Revolution in Africa? The briefing looks at the push to bring genetically modified (GM) crops and technologies to Africa and shows the implications for farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa. Is this new technology appropriate for African agricultural systems and what are the implications if it is taken up? What will the introduction of GM crops mean for Africa and its small farmers in particular? Is there any reason to believe that the new gene revolution will be any more successful than the failed Green Revolution in Africa?
Intellectual Property Rights in African Agriculture: Implications for Small Farmers by Devlin Kuyek | 2 Aug 2002 This briefing aims to provide rural community workers, farmers and policy makers in Africa with information that will contribute to their understanding of the implications of IPRs on plant genetic resources for small farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa. It situates the emergence of IPRs on plant genetic resources within a larger history, in which the innovative strength and traditions of African farming communities have been consistently disregarded. It concludes that the emergence of IPRs in African agriculture is highly detrimental to local food production and small farming systems, and that a reorientation of policies is urgently needed. This briefing aims to provide rural community workers, farmers and policy makers in Africa with information that will contribute to their understanding of the implications of IPRs on plant genetic resources for small farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa. It situates the emergence of IPRs on plant genetic resources within a larger history, in which the innovative strength and traditions of African farming communities have been consistently disregarded. It concludes that the emergence of IPRs in African agriculture is highly detrimental to local food production and small farming systems, and that a reorientation of policies is urgently needed.
The Summit-to-Summit Merry-go-Round by Erna Bennett | 24 Jul 2002 Seedling - July 2002 The 'rights' issue around biodiversity has really taken off in the last 20 years. One of the first campaigners for a global programme to save crop genetic re-sources, Erna Bennett, looks back at the twists and turns the rights issue has taken since the introduction of Plant Breeders Rights in 1962. She argues that a change in strategy and direction is long overdue for all those fighting for more equitable access and rights in relation to agricultural biodiversity. The 'rights' issue around biodiversity has really taken off in the last 20 years. One of the first campaigners for a global programme to save crop genetic re-sources, Erna Bennett, looks back at the twists and turns the rights issue has taken since the introduction of Plant Breeders Rights in 1962. She argues that a change in strategy and direction is long overdue for all those fighting for more equitable access and rights in relation to agricultural biodiversity.
The Ecology of Action by Camila Montecinos | 21 Jul 2002 Seedling - July 2002 In this article, Camila Montecinos attempts to answer some of the challenges she put forward five years ago. If sui generis is a dead-end alley and the tried and tested strategies of summitry and participation' have failed, where should we go now? Here, she outlines the need to reclaim our reference points and find a more rewarding and more resonant place for ourselves in the world from which to act. In this article, Camila Montecinos attempts to answer some of the challenges she put forward five years ago. If sui generis is a dead-end alley and the tried and tested strategies of summitry and participation' have failed, where should we go now? Here, she outlines the need to reclaim our reference points and find a more rewarding and more resonant place for ourselves in the world from which to act.
Growing Diversity by GRAIN | 18 Jul 2002 Seedling - July 2002 One of the most significant positive changes that has occurred in the field of biodiversity over Seedling's 20-year lifetime is a global awakening to the importance of the local custodianship of biodiversity. Farmers and indig-enous peoples finally began to feature in international treaties, policy docu-ments and programme plans. The Growing Diversity Project was launched to strengthen and exchange experiences in this field. After many years of planning and two busy years of activities, Growing Diversity has come to its official end with an international workshop held in Brazil in May. One of the most significant positive changes that has occurred in the field of biodiversity over Seedling's 20-year lifetime is a global awakening to the importance of the local custodianship of biodiversity. Farmers and indig-enous peoples finally began to feature in international treaties, policy docu-ments and programme plans. The Growing Diversity Project was launched to strengthen and exchange experiences in this field. After many years of planning and two busy years of activities, Growing Diversity has come to its official end with an international workshop held in Brazil in May.
WIPO moves toward 'world' patent system by GRAIN | 10 Jul 2002 In the last few years the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), a United Nations body mandated to promote intellectual property rights, has started building a “world patent” system. It may mean the end of patent policy as a tool for national development strategies and is likely to overtake the World Trade Organisation’s TRIPS agreement. Any deviation from its rules would be subject to some kind of sanction: it would be the final word. In the last few years the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), a United Nations body mandated to promote intellectual property rights, has started building a “world patent” system. It may mean the end of patent policy as a tool for national development strategies and is likely to overtake the World Trade Organisation’s TRIPS agreement. Any deviation from its rules would be subject to some kind of sanction: it would be the final word.
Farida Akhtar - founder of UBINIG by GRAIN | 9 Jul 2002 Seedling - July 2002 Farida Akhtar is one of the founders of UBINIG, a Bangladeshi NGO which has set up one of the biggest community seed banks in the world. Here she talks to Seedling about their successes so far. Farida Akhtar is one of the founders of UBINIG, a Bangladeshi NGO which has set up one of the biggest community seed banks in the world. Here she talks to Seedling about their successes so far.