Self-management vs agrotoxins: migrants as bridges by GRAIN | 1 Apr 2024 Land The migrants of El Mentidero carry their knowledge and their seeds with them, making connections through their history and their local methods, and tackle life as survivors of the modern world. Here, in this small space, they get to decide what to sow and how. The migrants of El Mentidero carry their knowledge and their seeds with them, making connections through their history and their local methods, and tackle life as survivors of the modern world. Here, in this small space, they get to decide what to sow and how.
Oil palm in Latin America: monoculture and violence by GRAIN | 26 Mar 2024 Land Oil palm plantations in Latin America have quadrupled. Demand is driven by the relatively low price of palm oil and its multiple uses. This crop is creating constant conflicts on peasant, indigenous and Afro-descendant lands. Oil palm plantations in Latin America have quadrupled. Demand is driven by the relatively low price of palm oil and its multiple uses. This crop is creating constant conflicts on peasant, indigenous and Afro-descendant lands.
A new wave of land grabs strikes Tanzania by GRAIN and La Via Campesina Southern and Eastern Africa | 2 Feb 2024 Land Tanzania’s experience in the global land grab post-2008 led to shattered hopes, land conflicts & misery for small farmers. Yet, the current govt risks repeating history. A new report looks at this critical moment for Tanzania's small farmers & pastoralists. Tanzania’s experience in the global land grab post-2008 led to shattered hopes, land conflicts & misery for small farmers. Yet, the current govt risks repeating history. A new report looks at this critical moment for Tanzania's small farmers & pastoralists.
US agribusiness – African Agriculture Holdings – threatens land and water rights in West Africa by Collective for the defence of Ndiael lands, Global convergence of struggles for land and water - West Africa, GRAIN, Oakland Institute | 1 Feb 2024 Land New York-based African Agriculture Holdings went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange on December 2023. This business venture plans to operate on over 2.9 million hectares in Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal to produce animal feed for export and sell carbon credits for corporations seeking to offset their CO2 emissions. New York-based African Agriculture Holdings went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange on December 2023. This business venture plans to operate on over 2.9 million hectares in Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal to produce animal feed for export and sell carbon credits for corporations seeking to offset their CO2 emissions.
Agrarian reform and land tenure in Colombia by Fabián Pachón (Fensuagro) y GRAIN | 30 Nov 2023 Land Land tenure is a fundamental issue in every country and Colombia is no exception. The way in which land ownership has been historically regulated and managed has a profound impact on the country's economy and the different ways of leading a dignified life in the various territories. Land tenure is a fundamental issue in every country and Colombia is no exception. The way in which land ownership has been historically regulated and managed has a profound impact on the country's economy and the different ways of leading a dignified life in the various territories.
India’s oil palm grand plan: at what cost? by GRAIN | 30 Nov 2023 Land India is currently experiencing a major transformation in its oilseed sector, marked by ambitious plans to expand the cultivation of African oil palm. Yet this grand plan casts a shadow over the nation’s diverse oilseed crops, sounding alarms bells for farmers, public health and the environment. India is currently experiencing a major transformation in its oilseed sector, marked by ambitious plans to expand the cultivation of African oil palm. Yet this grand plan casts a shadow over the nation’s diverse oilseed crops, sounding alarms bells for farmers, public health and the environment.
The Palestinian people have a right to their lives, land and sovereignty by GRAIN | 27 Oct 2023 Land Since decades, one of the many dimensions of Israel’s colonial project has been the destruction of Palestinian agriculture and fishing. Prior to October 2023, 35% of Gaza’s farmland lay within an “access restricted area” on the border with Israel. As a result, 113,000 farmers lost access to their lands located in this area. Since decades, one of the many dimensions of Israel’s colonial project has been the destruction of Palestinian agriculture and fishing. Prior to October 2023, 35% of Gaza’s farmland lay within an “access restricted area” on the border with Israel. As a result, 113,000 farmers lost access to their lands located in this area.
San Isidro vs Amway by GRAIN | 17 Oct 2023 Land A Mexican ejido community, faced a protracted land dispute involving the illegal acquisition of 280 hectares by the US company Amway-Nutrilite. After an 80-year struggle, the Mexican government recognized the land as part of the ejido, but Amway returned only 120 hectares, leading to ongoing legal battles and community efforts to regain control of their territory. A Mexican ejido community, faced a protracted land dispute involving the illegal acquisition of 280 hectares by the US company Amway-Nutrilite. After an 80-year struggle, the Mexican government recognized the land as part of the ejido, but Amway returned only 120 hectares, leading to ongoing legal battles and community efforts to regain control of their territory.
Squeezing communities dry: water grabbing by the global food industry by GRAIN | 21 Sep 2023 Land Pension fund managers, private equity firms and other financial players are moving aggressively to snatch up lands around the world with access to water for irrigation. Their strategy is to pump as much water as they can and as fast as they can into the production of crops, like fruits and nuts, that reap high prices in export markets. Pension fund managers, private equity firms and other financial players are moving aggressively to snatch up lands around the world with access to water for irrigation. Their strategy is to pump as much water as they can and as fast as they can into the production of crops, like fruits and nuts, that reap high prices in export markets.
Persecution against rights defenders of the Afro-Ecuadorian commune of Barranquilla de San Javier by Acción Ecológica & GRAIN | 5 Jun 2023 Land After months of judicial criminalisation of four peasants that defend their forest from the expansion of oil palm plantations, on 12 June a new possibility of justice will open up for the judges of the Ecuadorian courts to exonerate and free these people from the commune of Barranquilla de San Javier de Cachaví from all charges. After months of judicial criminalisation of four peasants that defend their forest from the expansion of oil palm plantations, on 12 June a new possibility of justice will open up for the judges of the Ecuadorian courts to exonerate and free these people from the commune of Barranquilla de San Javier de Cachaví from all charges.
The avocados of wrath by GRAIN & Colectivo por la Autonomía | 4 May 2023 Land Avocados are the world’s third-largest fruit commodity. Their production is taking up an ever-growing area and continually expanding into new countries. What are the implications? What forces are driving it? How does this model, working on both global and local scales, manage to keep prices high? Avocados are the world’s third-largest fruit commodity. Their production is taking up an ever-growing area and continually expanding into new countries. What are the implications? What forces are driving it? How does this model, working on both global and local scales, manage to keep prices high?
The Brazilian state and agri-food corporations are condemned for ecocide of the Cerrado and genocide of its peoples by GRAIN | 21 Dec 2022 Land The ecocide being perpetrated against the Cerrado and the genocide of the Cerrado peoples are taking place in the context of the most persistent war of our time - and the most difficult to win - which is not between nation states. Rather, it is being waged against nature and the ‘peoples of nature’ by large corporations and the people who run them: the dominant minority, referred to as the “commodities people” by the great Yanomami shaman, Davi Kopenawa. This war is much harder to fight because warlords hide behind the names of conglomerates designed to erase their fingerprints and gain legitimacy day after day by the repetition on the stock exchange trading floors of something intangible called "the market". The ecocide being perpetrated against the Cerrado and the genocide of the Cerrado peoples are taking place in the context of the most persistent war of our time - and the most difficult to win - which is not between nation states. Rather, it is being waged against nature and the ‘peoples of nature’ by large corporations and the people who run them: the dominant minority, referred to as the “commodities people” by the great Yanomami shaman, Davi Kopenawa. This war is much harder to fight because warlords hide behind the names of conglomerates designed to erase their fingerprints and gain legitimacy day after day by the repetition on the stock exchange trading floors of something intangible called "the market".
The digitalisation of land: more data, less land by GRAIN | 15 Apr 2022 Land As per its nature, public and communal lands cannot be bought, sold or offered as collateral for loans, making it harder for land grabbers to extract wealth if they take over these lands. This is where new technologies come in; the digital integration of cadastres and land registries enables these lands to be reclassified. Through cadastres, rural properties can be included on registries that provide access to public policies and funding, which, in turn, can be used as a basis to issue individual property titles. As per its nature, public and communal lands cannot be bought, sold or offered as collateral for loans, making it harder for land grabbers to extract wealth if they take over these lands. This is where new technologies come in; the digital integration of cadastres and land registries enables these lands to be reclassified. Through cadastres, rural properties can be included on registries that provide access to public policies and funding, which, in turn, can be used as a basis to issue individual property titles.
A Century of Agro-Colonialism in the DR Congo by GRAIN | 25 Mar 2022 Land Many of the oil palm plantations now owned by multinational corporations in West and Central Africa were built on lands stolen from local communities during colonial occupations. This is the case in what is known today as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the Anglo-Dutch multinational food company Unilever began building its palm oil empire. Today, these plantations are sites of on-going poverty, conflict and violence. Many of the oil palm plantations now owned by multinational corporations in West and Central Africa were built on lands stolen from local communities during colonial occupations. This is the case in what is known today as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the Anglo-Dutch multinational food company Unilever began building its palm oil empire. Today, these plantations are sites of on-going poverty, conflict and violence.
Infographic | Digital fences: technology and its use in land grabbing by GRAIN | 19 Apr 2021 Land | Multimedia This infographic highlights the main findings of a thorough investigation that was carried out in five South American countries in order to stop the ongoing cycle of violent dispossession. Our report zeros in on the land digitalisation process that is paving the way towards the mass privatisation and financialisation of land. This infographic highlights the main findings of a thorough investigation that was carried out in five South American countries in order to stop the ongoing cycle of violent dispossession. Our report zeros in on the land digitalisation process that is paving the way towards the mass privatisation and financialisation of land.