The bulletin board is a place where GRAIN staff and others post their comments, suggestions, hints and assessments of documents, places or events. Or just share information that we think is interesting.
Glenn Ashton | 23 April 2013 | food sovereignty, seeds & biodiversity, laws & policies
Seed and the control of seed lies at the heart of agriculture. In Africa around 80% of seed comes from local and community saved seed resources. This seed is adapted to local conditions. It forms an integral part of community food security and agricultural integrity. This entire traditional system is now under threat.
ACB and others | 03 April 2013 | corporations, seeds & biodiversity, actions | Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Civil society organisations from the SADC region, and around the world have condemned the SADC draft Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (Plant Breeders’ Rights) as spelling disaster for small farmers and food security in the region. These groups, representing millions of farmers in Africa and around the world have submitted their concerns to the SADC Secretariat. They are calling for the rejection of the Protocol and urgent consultations with farmers, farmer movements and civil society before it’s too late.
Via Campesina, GRAIN, ETC Group | 02 April 2013 | corporations, seeds & biodiversity
Al Jazeera | 18 March 2013 | land grabbing, corporations, seeds & biodiversity | Argentina
The country's soya industry is booming, but what is the impact on Argentinians and their land? Al Jazeera investigates.
Associacion ANDES | 01 February 2013 | corporations, seeds & biodiversity | Peru
After the Mexican government shocked the world last December with its plans to allow for the planting of GM maize in the heart of this crops center of diversity, now the same tragedy seems to be going to be allowed in Peru, the centre of patato diversity. Indigenous people raise the alarm.
South China Morning Post | 04 December 2012 | seeds & biodiversity | China
Rival researchers say Professor Yuan's bid to reach 15 tonnes a hectare is too costly and risks making rice vulnerable to pests and weather. "The rice was created for one purpose, and that's the personal obsession of Yuan to increase yield."
William New | 28 September 2012 | seeds & biodiversity, laws & policies
A seemingly remote African Union proposal to create a Pan-African Intellectual Property Organization appears to have gained momentum and will come before African science and technology ministers for review in early November, according to sources. A copy of the final draft statutes shows how the new body would operate, and for some observers, how it would elevate African IP standards well above current levels, with “disastrous consequences” for access, development, and human rights.
Gaia, ABN | 13 June 2012 | corporations, seeds & biodiversity | Ethiopia, India, United States
Seeds of Freedom charts the story of seed from its roots at the heart of traditional, diversity rich farming systems across the world, to being transformed into a powerful commodity, used to monopolise the global food system. Worth to see!
Pierre Sultana | 29 April 2012 | seeds & biodiversity, actions | EU
The European Commission (DG SANCO) is presently working on a review of EU legislation on the Marketing of Seed and Propagating Material. Arche Noah invites you to join an open letter demanding positive change in favour of biodiversity, small farmers, seed savers and consumers.
GRAIN | 10 January 2012 | seeds & biodiversity, laws & policies
It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Dr. Erna Bennett on 3 January 2011 at her home in Scotland. Erna was a world-renown geneticist, and a tireless fighter against the corporate take over of peasants' seeds. We would like to share with you an article that she wrote for us 10 years ago.
Other websites that GRAIN is involved in:
