New mega-treaty in the pipeline: what does RCEP mean for farmers’ seeds in Asia? by GRAIN | 17 Mar 2016 seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies | intellectual property rights Signed in February 2016, the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) will have a major impact on farmers’ access to and control over seeds. The US-led agreement, which covers 12 countries of the Asia-Pacific region (excluding China), opens the door to trade in genetically modified seeds and encourages member countries to apply intellectual property rights to the realm of “traditional knowledge” about plants and animals. While the TPP is certainly cause for concern, another mega trade deal is being negotiated behind closed doors that could threaten farmer seed sovereignty in Asia even further. Signed in February 2016, the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) will have a major impact on farmers’ access to and control over seeds. The US-led agreement, which covers 12 countries of the Asia-Pacific region (excluding China), opens the door to trade in genetically modified seeds and encourages member countries to apply intellectual property rights to the realm of “traditional knowledge” about plants and animals. While the TPP is certainly cause for concern, another mega trade deal is being negotiated behind closed doors that could threaten farmer seed sovereignty in Asia even further.
Finding our seeds by ISCenter | 15 Mar 2016 Korea, Republic of | seeds & biodiversity Interview with Han, Young-mi, Former General Secretary of the Korean Woman Peasant’s Association Gangwon-do Union on what at stake for the farmers from the trend of mergers and acquisitions of the transnational agroindustry. Interview with Han, Young-mi, Former General Secretary of the Korean Woman Peasant’s Association Gangwon-do Union on what at stake for the farmers from the trend of mergers and acquisitions of the transnational agroindustry.
Farmer-scientist group, petitioners win case against Bt eggplant by MASIPAG | 14 Dec 2015 Philippines | corporations | seeds & biodiversity | actions | GMOs After almost four years of litigation led by farmers and allies, the Supreme Court of the Philippines has permanently stopped the field testing of Bt talong, an eggplant variety genetically engineered to produce its own toxin. After almost four years of litigation led by farmers and allies, the Supreme Court of the Philippines has permanently stopped the field testing of Bt talong, an eggplant variety genetically engineered to produce its own toxin.
We are the solution: African women organise for land and seed sovereignty by Other Worlds | 4 Nov 2015 Senegal | seeds & biodiversity Other Worlds brings us 7-part series on African seed and food sovereignty. The first article, We Are The Solution: African Women Organize for Land and Seed Sovereignty, shares the inspiring work of Mariama Sonko, a farmer and organizer in Casamance, Senegal, discussing how rural women are organizing for land ownership and preserving traditional agroecological peasant agriculture. This series will run every other Wednesday from now until the first week of January. Check here for their archive of stories. Stay tuned! Other Worlds brings us 7-part series on African seed and food sovereignty. The first article, We Are The Solution: African Women Organize for Land and Seed Sovereignty, shares the inspiring work of Mariama Sonko, a farmer and organizer in Casamance, Senegal, discussing how rural women are organizing for land ownership and preserving traditional agroecological peasant agriculture. This series will run every other Wednesday from now until the first week of January. Check here for their archive of stories. Stay tuned!
Agroecology: Voices from social movements by Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience | 4 Oct 2015 technologies | seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies This video explores the different perspectives of food providers on agroecology and the calls from social movements to embed agroecoogy in the struggle for food sovereignty. It focuses on the International Declaration for Food Sovereignty which has been advanced by social movements to claim agroecology as a bottom up practice, science and movement and the most important pathway towards a most just, sustainable and viable food and agriculture system. This video explores the different perspectives of food providers on agroecology and the calls from social movements to embed agroecoogy in the struggle for food sovereignty. It focuses on the International Declaration for Food Sovereignty which has been advanced by social movements to claim agroecology as a bottom up practice, science and movement and the most important pathway towards a most just, sustainable and viable food and agriculture system.
Golden Rice research publication retracted on ethical grounds by MASIPAG | 7 Aug 2015 corporations | technologies | seeds & biodiversity | China The study's authors were unable to provide sufficient evidence either that the study has been reviewed by a local ethics committee in China or prove that all parents and children involved in the study were provided with the full consent form for the study. Opponents also pointed out that the research was done using meals that are high in fat that would favor positive results of the experiment. The study's authors were unable to provide sufficient evidence either that the study has been reviewed by a local ethics committee in China or prove that all parents and children involved in the study were provided with the full consent form for the study. Opponents also pointed out that the research was done using meals that are high in fat that would favor positive results of the experiment.
The color of food: stories of race, resilience, and farming in the United States by Natasha Bowens | 28 May 2015 United States | food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity A collection of portraits and stories of Black, Native, Asian and Latina farmers in the United States, digging into critical issues at the intersection of race and food to challenge the status quo of agrarian identity. A collection of portraits and stories of Black, Native, Asian and Latina farmers in the United States, digging into critical issues at the intersection of race and food to challenge the status quo of agrarian identity.
Agroecology: putting food sovereignty into action by WhyHunger | 15 May 2015 Brazil | Guatemala | Haiti | India | Mali | United States | food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity Agroecology is an agricultural method based on the traditional knowledge of those who cultivate the land and a way of life. WhyHunger release its first agroecology publication that shares the knowledge and perspectives of social movement leaders that are working to “scale up” agroecology around the world. Agroecology is an agricultural method based on the traditional knowledge of those who cultivate the land and a way of life. WhyHunger release its first agroecology publication that shares the knowledge and perspectives of social movement leaders that are working to “scale up” agroecology around the world.
Farmers make more money with ecological farming by Mark Curtis & Greenpeace | 22 Apr 2015 Kenya | Malawi | technologies | food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity More money for small scale farmers with ecological farming – this is the message contained in a Greenpeace Africa report released in Nairobi today. The report – based on research in Kenya and Malawi – shows that ecological farming provides substantial financial benefits to small-scale farmers when compared to those farmers that use agro-chemical More money for small scale farmers with ecological farming – this is the message contained in a Greenpeace Africa report released in Nairobi today. The report – based on research in Kenya and Malawi – shows that ecological farming provides substantial financial benefits to small-scale farmers when compared to those farmers that use agro-chemical
Mali: "Agroecology is in our hands! We are building it further together!" by La Via Campesina | 25 Feb 2015 food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity From 24-27 February, the women and men gathered at the International Agroecology Conference in Mali will debate and share experiences to reinforce a common vision and principles of agroecology that include its social, economic and political elements. From 24-27 February, the women and men gathered at the International Agroecology Conference in Mali will debate and share experiences to reinforce a common vision and principles of agroecology that include its social, economic and political elements.
New ‘Monsanto Law’ in Africa would force GMOs on farmers by Christina Sarich | 5 Jan 2015 Ghana | food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity | GMOs The front lines of the food sovereignty war in Ghana are swelling as the national parliament gives support to the Plant Breeders Bill. This proposed legislation contains rules that would restrict farmers from freely saving, swapping, and breeding seeds. The front lines of the food sovereignty war in Ghana are swelling as the national parliament gives support to the Plant Breeders Bill. This proposed legislation contains rules that would restrict farmers from freely saving, swapping, and breeding seeds.
Gates Foundation refutes report it fails African farmers by Karrie Kehoe, Thomson Reuters | 5 Nov 2014 corporations | technologies | food crisis | seeds & biodiversity The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has rejected accusations that too much of its funding goes to Western researchers, saying it is helping small farmers in African countries. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has rejected accusations that too much of its funding goes to Western researchers, saying it is helping small farmers in African countries.
Food Systems Academy - an open education resource to transform our food systems by Food Systems Academy | 5 Nov 2014 corporations | food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity A new site aims to help you increase your understanding of our food systems – where they came from, how they change, what the challenges are and how to meet them. A new site aims to help you increase your understanding of our food systems – where they came from, how they change, what the challenges are and how to meet them.
CSO report for the “FAO’s State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture” by IPC | 3 Oct 2014 seeds & biodiversity The International planning committee for food sovereignty has been asked by FAO to produce a report, by the end of the year, on “The contribution made by farmers, pastoralists, forest dwellers, fishers and other small-scale food providers to the conservation, development and sustainable use of biodiversity for food and agriculture” and seeks your input. The International planning committee for food sovereignty has been asked by FAO to produce a report, by the end of the year, on “The contribution made by farmers, pastoralists, forest dwellers, fishers and other small-scale food providers to the conservation, development and sustainable use of biodiversity for food and agriculture” and seeks your input.
Will GM crops feed the world? by Canadian Biotechnology Action Network | 2 Oct 2014 technologies | seeds & biodiversity CBAN's new report Will GM Crops Feed the World? examines experiences with GM crops and exposes the many ways in which they threaten the environment and farmers’ livelihoods, and overlook the real causes of hunger. CBAN's new report Will GM Crops Feed the World? examines experiences with GM crops and exposes the many ways in which they threaten the environment and farmers’ livelihoods, and overlook the real causes of hunger.