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.
GEF - An Unsuitable Vehicle for Biodiversity Conservation by GRAIN | 20 Nov 1996 Seedling - December 1996
SUI GENERIS - A DEAD END ALLEY by Camila Montecinos | 12 Nov 1996 Seedling - December 1996 A self-critical evaluation on NGO's efforts to devise `sui generis' intellectual property systems that really serve to protect the rights of indigenous peoples and farming or other local communities. A self-critical evaluation on NGO's efforts to devise `sui generis' intellectual property systems that really serve to protect the rights of indigenous peoples and farming or other local communities.
FREE TRADE VERSUS FOOD SECURITY by GRAIN | 25 Oct 1996 Seedling - October 1996 The preparatory process to the World Food Summit has been paved with power plays between the different development agendas, with free-trade and globalisation proponents ready to eliminate self-sufficiency as the main food security strategy. The preparatory process to the World Food Summit has been paved with power plays between the different development agendas, with free-trade and globalisation proponents ready to eliminate self-sufficiency as the main food security strategy.
FROM LEIPZIG TO BUENOS AIRES by GRAIN | 15 Oct 1996 Seedling - October 1996 Governments and NGO's should take advantage of the CBD discussions on agricultural biodiversity, IPRs and the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples to counter further privatisation of genetic resources. Governments and NGO's should take advantage of the CBD discussions on agricultural biodiversity, IPRs and the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples to counter further privatisation of genetic resources.
THE BIOTECH BATTLE OVER THE GOLDEN CROP by GRAIN | 11 Oct 1996 Seedling - October 1996 While maize is a major staple food for many countries in the South, in the North it is the main animal feed crop and, increasingly, a raw material for industrial use. An exploration of the infighting among the biotechnology actors for control over this "green gold". While maize is a major staple food for many countries in the South, in the North it is the main animal feed crop and, increasingly, a raw material for industrial use. An exploration of the infighting among the biotechnology actors for control over this "green gold".
FROM THE EDITORS by GRAIN | 25 Jun 1996 Seedling - June 1996 Facing up to the negotiations in FAO and the Convention on Biological Diversity this year, the Editors wrap up the three articles in this issue related to the industrialisation of agriculture and commodification of genetic resources with a brief reflection on the Global Plan of Action which is up for discussion this month in Leipzig. Facing up to the negotiations in FAO and the Convention on Biological Diversity this year, the Editors wrap up the three articles in this issue related to the industrialisation of agriculture and commodification of genetic resources with a brief reflection on the Global Plan of Action which is up for discussion this month in Leipzig.
EX SITU CONSERVATION: WHEN THE FRIDGE BREAKS DOWN by GRAIN | 20 Jun 1996 Seedling - June 1996 The Report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources recently published by FAO confirms what NGOs have been arguing for years: the seeds are not necessarily safe in the genebanks. The Report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources recently published by FAO confirms what NGOs have been arguing for years: the seeds are not necessarily safe in the genebanks.