Food security: Nurturing a new culture of contradictions by Ufrieda Ho, Daily Maverick | 15 Dec 2017 South Africa | seeds & biodiversity A first-ever national seed dialogue in South Africa strengthens the push-back against the bulging muscles of corporate and state control over seed and food production. UFRIEDA HO reports. A first-ever national seed dialogue in South Africa strengthens the push-back against the bulging muscles of corporate and state control over seed and food production. UFRIEDA HO reports.
WEMA project shrouded in secrecy: open letter to African governments to be accountable to farmers, civil society by African Centre for Biodiversity | 4 Sep 2017 Kenya | Mozambique | South Africa | Tanzania | Uganda | GMOs The Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project promises to develop drought tolerance in maize for the benefit of small holder farmers, but is really a project designed to facilitate the spread of hybrid and genetically modified (GM) maize varieties on the continent. WEMA involves five African countries: Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. It works through the National Agricultural Research (NAR) agencies of these countries, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and Monsanto. The project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project promises to develop drought tolerance in maize for the benefit of small holder farmers, but is really a project designed to facilitate the spread of hybrid and genetically modified (GM) maize varieties on the continent. WEMA involves five African countries: Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. It works through the National Agricultural Research (NAR) agencies of these countries, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and Monsanto. The project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
South Africa – Land for food! One woman, one hectare! Rural Women's Assembly march in Cape Town on 21 March by Rural Women's Assembly | 19 Mar 2015 South Africa | food sovereignty | laws & policies | actions Rural women are the guardians of seed, life and love. Without land, seeds cannot be planted. Without land, life cannot be brought forth and without land in the hands of women, the love for nature does not exist while corporate control rapidly destroys the planet we share. We will not wait to be given land and will march across the world in unity with our sisters. Rural women are the guardians of seed, life and love. Without land, seeds cannot be planted. Without land, life cannot be brought forth and without land in the hands of women, the love for nature does not exist while corporate control rapidly destroys the planet we share. We will not wait to be given land and will march across the world in unity with our sisters.
South Africa: the farm labour question – fifty-fifty shades of obfuscation by Andries du Toit | 17 Feb 2015 South Africa | laws & policies Government proposes that those who have worked and lived on a farm for ten years or more should, by law, get a proportional share in the ‘land’ or ‘equity’ on the farm. Du Toit argues that the draft policy's rationale lies not insupposed benefits for those who work the land, but in the political theatre currently unfolding in South Africa as a whole. Government proposes that those who have worked and lived on a farm for ten years or more should, by law, get a proportional share in the ‘land’ or ‘equity’ on the farm. Du Toit argues that the draft policy's rationale lies not insupposed benefits for those who work the land, but in the political theatre currently unfolding in South Africa as a whole.
How Bill Gates is helping KFC take over Africa by Alex Park, Mother Jones | 13 Jan 2014 Mozambique | South Africa | Zambia | corporations | food sovereignty The Gates Foundation and USAID are helping the Colonel's African expansion, perhaps at the expense of local farmers. The Gates Foundation and USAID are helping the Colonel's African expansion, perhaps at the expense of local farmers.
New seed legislation spells disaster for small farmers in Africa by ACB and others | 3 Apr 2013 Kenya | South Africa | Tanzania | Uganda | Zimbabwe | corporations | seeds & biodiversity | actions 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. 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.
Rooibos robbery by | 26 May 2010 corporations | South Africa | actions Nestlé accused of biopirating South African genetic resources Nestlé accused of biopirating South African genetic resources
An open letter to Oxfam America by | 12 Apr 2010 Burkina Faso | India | South Africa | China | technologies | actions An Oxfam America project concludes that “transgenic crops offer enormous possibilities". The open letterr, co-signed by GRAIN, expresses concern. An Oxfam America project concludes that “transgenic crops offer enormous possibilities". The open letterr, co-signed by GRAIN, expresses concern.