TOWARDS OUR SUI GENERIS RIGHTS by GRAIN | 25 Dec 1997 Seedling - December 1997 In December a GRAIN/Biothai seminar in Thailand focused on the TRIPS Agreement of the WTO, and more specifically the implications of this agreement for rights over biodiversity and related knowledge. Included in this overview is "The Thammasat Resolution", a common position reached by the participants. In December a GRAIN/Biothai seminar in Thailand focused on the TRIPS Agreement of the WTO, and more specifically the implications of this agreement for rights over biodiversity and related knowledge. Included in this overview is "The Thammasat Resolution", a common position reached by the participants.
WILL THE U.S. BREADBASKET LAST? by GRAIN | 20 Dec 1997 Seedling - December 1997 US trade and agriculture representatives like to present the US as the world's breadbasket, consistently producing ever-increasing amounts of safe and nutritious food for a hungry world. Close examination finds instead, that the endless drive to maximise production is taking its toll, on both US society and the environment. US trade and agriculture representatives like to present the US as the world's breadbasket, consistently producing ever-increasing amounts of safe and nutritious food for a hungry world. Close examination finds instead, that the endless drive to maximise production is taking its toll, on both US society and the environment.
ENGINEERING THE BLUE REVOLUTION by GRAIN | 15 Dec 1997 Seedling - December 1997 As the worldwide fishing crisis continues, the industry is regearing itself to secure a continued supply of luxury fish to lucrative markets. Aquaculture and genetic engineering are being heralded by proponents of the Blue Revolution, as the ideal solution. GRAIN examines the record so far and looks at the future implications. As the worldwide fishing crisis continues, the industry is regearing itself to secure a continued supply of luxury fish to lucrative markets. Aquaculture and genetic engineering are being heralded by proponents of the Blue Revolution, as the ideal solution. GRAIN examines the record so far and looks at the future implications.
EUROPEAN PATENTS STEP CLOSER by GRAIN | 25 Oct 1997 Seedling - October 1997 1996 was a year of unprecedented international attention for agricultural biodiversity. But was any tangible progress made? GRAIN looks back. 1996 was a year of unprecedented international attention for agricultural biodiversity. But was any tangible progress made? GRAIN looks back.
BIODIVERSE FARMING PRODUCES MORE by GRAIN | 20 Oct 1997 Seedling - October 1997 A wealth of evidence demonstrates that biodiverse farming can compete with industrial agriculture in terms of system-wide productivity and that it offers the important advantages of sustainability and risk reduction. GRAIN examines the case that the formal sector can no longer ignore. A wealth of evidence demonstrates that biodiverse farming can compete with industrial agriculture in terms of system-wide productivity and that it offers the important advantages of sustainability and risk reduction. GRAIN examines the case that the formal sector can no longer ignore.
TOMATO - GLOBAL FAME AND CORPORATE DESIRE by GRAIN | 15 Oct 1997 Seedling - October 1997 Growth from obscurity to biggest selling vegeatable in less than a century has made tomato an object of corporate attention. Intensive industrial producion has lead to genetic uniformity of the crop which is largely owned and consumed by the North. Growth from obscurity to biggest selling vegeatable in less than a century has made tomato an object of corporate attention. Intensive industrial producion has lead to genetic uniformity of the crop which is largely owned and consumed by the North.
BIOPIRACY'S LATEST DISGUISES by GRAIN | 25 Jun 1997 Seedling - June 1997 While bioprospecting agreements continue to be heralded as the way towards conserving biodiversity and sustainable development, this article takes a critical look at some of those agreements, seen by many as legalised biopiracy. While bioprospecting agreements continue to be heralded as the way towards conserving biodiversity and sustainable development, this article takes a critical look at some of those agreements, seen by many as legalised biopiracy.
THE PHILIPPINES: A BRIDLE ON BIOPROSPECTING? by Oscar B. Zamora | 20 Jun 1997 Seedling - June 1997 The Convention on Biodiversity says countries should regulate access to genetic resources. The mechanisms to do this are starting to emerge at the regional, subregional and national levels. A case study of the Philippines' now-famous Executive Order 247 governing bioprospecting. The Convention on Biodiversity says countries should regulate access to genetic resources. The mechanisms to do this are starting to emerge at the regional, subregional and national levels. A case study of the Philippines' now-famous Executive Order 247 governing bioprospecting.
SOYBEAN: THE HIDDEN COMMODITY by GRAIN | 15 Jun 1997 Seedling - June 1997 Genetically-engineered herbicide-tolerant soybean gained worldwide public attention due to consumer opposition in Europe. As with many other crops, the soybean market is characterised by increasing consolidation of corporate control over it, specially through genetechnology R&D strategies. Genetically-engineered herbicide-tolerant soybean gained worldwide public attention due to consumer opposition in Europe. As with many other crops, the soybean market is characterised by increasing consolidation of corporate control over it, specially through genetechnology R&D strategies.
THE YEAR OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY REVISITED by GRAIN | 25 Mar 1997 Seedling - March 1997 1996 was a year of unprecedented international attention for agricultural biodiversity. But was any tangible progress made? GRAIN looks back. 1996 was a year of unprecedented international attention for agricultural biodiversity. But was any tangible progress made? GRAIN looks back.
THE DIRECTIVE RISES AGAIN by Steve Emmot | 20 Mar 1997 Seedling - March 1997 Two years ago, the European Parliament rejected a law proposal to allow for the patenting of life forms. Today it is back again before the parliamentarians in slightly modified form. An update from Brussels. Two years ago, the European Parliament rejected a law proposal to allow for the patenting of life forms. Today it is back again before the parliamentarians in slightly modified form. An update from Brussels.
ROUNDUP READY OR NOT by GRAIN | 15 Mar 1997 Seedling - March 1997 Monsanto's Roundup Readyâ Soybean is causing an uproar among agricultural, environmental and consumer organisations. As a stunning example of where biotech farming will take us. GRAIN provides a brief summary of the debate. Monsanto's Roundup Readyâ Soybean is causing an uproar among agricultural, environmental and consumer organisations. As a stunning example of where biotech farming will take us. GRAIN provides a brief summary of the debate.
RECIPE FOR DISASTER by Joel Bleifuss | 25 Dec 1996 Seedling - December 1996 Agribusiness corporations are hoping to make genetically modified organisms a permanent feature of our daily diet. But to get to that point they have to overcome consumer, environmental and health organisation's opposition and get past Mother Nature's roadblocks. Agribusiness corporations are hoping to make genetically modified organisms a permanent feature of our daily diet. But to get to that point they have to overcome consumer, environmental and health organisation's opposition and get past Mother Nature's roadblocks.
INVESTING IN DESTRUCTION by GRAIN | 20 Dec 1996 Seedling - December 1996 In this article we review the impact of the World Bank operations on biodiversity over the last 30 years. Its current initiatives in that arena are, at best, merely attempts to put temporary band aids on the mortal wounds the Bank has inflicted on the world. In this article we review the impact of the World Bank operations on biodiversity over the last 30 years. Its current initiatives in that arena are, at best, merely attempts to put temporary band aids on the mortal wounds the Bank has inflicted on the world.
LOCAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FOR FOOD SECURITY by Samba Seck | 15 Dec 1996 Seedling - December 1996 This story from Guinea-Bissau (West Africa) tells how an interethnic technology transfer improved food security and led to the use of better adapted seeds. This story from Guinea-Bissau (West Africa) tells how an interethnic technology transfer improved food security and led to the use of better adapted seeds.