Seed laws: imposing agricultural apartheid by GRAIN | 29 Jul 2005 Seedling - July 2005 Back in the 1960s "seed laws" referred to rules governing the commercialisation of seeds: what materials could be sold on the market under what conditions. Agencies like the FAO and the World Bank played a very strong role in getting developing countries to adopt these seed laws, the main idea, officially speaking, was to ensure that only "good quality" planting materials reach farmers in order to raise productivity and therefore feed growing populations. However, the marketing rules, that the FAO and the World Bank effectively pushed, came from Europe and North America, the very place where the seed industry is in place. And the seed industry produces seeds by specialised professionals and no longer on the farm by farmers themselves. If we look at them today, seed laws are all about repression. They're about what farmers can't do. Back in the 1960s "seed laws" referred to rules governing the commercialisation of seeds: what materials could be sold on the market under what conditions. Agencies like the FAO and the World Bank played a very strong role in getting developing countries to adopt these seed laws, the main idea, officially speaking, was to ensure that only "good quality" planting materials reach farmers in order to raise productivity and therefore feed growing populations. However, the marketing rules, that the FAO and the World Bank effectively pushed, came from Europe and North America, the very place where the seed industry is in place. And the seed industry produces seeds by specialised professionals and no longer on the farm by farmers themselves. If we look at them today, seed laws are all about repression. They're about what farmers can't do.
July 2005 by GRAIN | 30 Jul 2005 Seedling - July 2005 SPECIAL SEED LAW SEEDLING! This Seedling takes us through a number of experiences and brutal shifts going on with seed laws in different parts of the world today, in the hope of raising further debate and new ideas about how we can support truly autonomous and farmer-controlled seed supply systems. SPECIAL SEED LAW SEEDLING! This Seedling takes us through a number of experiences and brutal shifts going on with seed laws in different parts of the world today, in the hope of raising further debate and new ideas about how we can support truly autonomous and farmer-controlled seed supply systems.
SAVING POTATOES IN THE ANDES by Henk Hobbelink and Miges Baumann | 20 Feb 1991 Seedling - February 1991 The home of the potato is to be found in the Andes, where many wild species grow alongside the indigenous varieties developed by local farmers. Throughout this majestic mountain chain, the potato is also the basis of the local diet. While farmers grow an impressive mosaic of different varieties, that diversity is under threat from several angles. The governments are pushing mainstream monoculture, but the people are working on other alternatives. GRAIN associates Henk Hobbelink and Miges Baumann travelled through Ecuador and give a firsthand report. The home of the potato is to be found in the Andes, where many wild species grow alongside the indigenous varieties developed by local farmers. Throughout this majestic mountain chain, the potato is also the basis of the local diet. While farmers grow an impressive mosaic of different varieties, that diversity is under threat from several angles. The governments are pushing mainstream monoculture, but the people are working on other alternatives. GRAIN associates Henk Hobbelink and Miges Baumann travelled through Ecuador and give a firsthand report.
THE URGE TO MERGE by Peter Einarsson | 15 Oct 1992 Seedling - October 1992 This fall a major merger will become effective in the Swedish seed business scheme. Two major Swedish breeding operations, Svalöf and Weibull, became Svalöf-Weibull AB, with the new 100% owner being Svenska Lantmännen AB, which is the central holding company of the Swedish farmers ' cooperatives. The merger puts the new company high in the top ranking of seed corporations worldwide. It responds to the business logic of "Big is Beautiful", but what might be lost in the process is the unique public service that both Svalöf and Weibull provided to Swedish farmers over the past 100 years. Peter Einarsson followed the process from close by and reports for Seedling. This fall a major merger will become effective in the Swedish seed business scheme. Two major Swedish breeding operations, Svalöf and Weibull, became Svalöf-Weibull AB, with the new 100% owner being Svenska Lantmännen AB, which is the central holding company of the Swedish farmers ' cooperatives. The merger puts the new company high in the top ranking of seed corporations worldwide. It responds to the business logic of "Big is Beautiful", but what might be lost in the process is the unique public service that both Svalöf and Weibull provided to Swedish farmers over the past 100 years. Peter Einarsson followed the process from close by and reports for Seedling.
Cracking some hard nuts by GRAIN | 5 Oct 2007 Seedling - October 2007 Behind the scenes, and together with others, GRAIN has been involved in two projects this year which are now drawing to a close - an external evaluation and a study on whether and how it could be possible to set up a special funding mechanism. Behind the scenes, and together with others, GRAIN has been involved in two projects this year which are now drawing to a close - an external evaluation and a study on whether and how it could be possible to set up a special funding mechanism.
The Great Yield Forward? A photo essay on China's hybrid rice by GRAIN | 20 Jan 2007 In September 2006 GRAIN went to rural Yunnan and Sichuan, two of China's major rice farming areas, to interview farmers about their experience growing hybrid rice. A full report from this trip is available in the January 2007 issue of Seedling: (http://www.grain.org/seedling/?id=455) Photos in this photo essay are taken by GRAIN staff, with consent of the subject in most cases, and are free of copyright. You can download the PDF version of the essay In September 2006 GRAIN went to rural Yunnan and Sichuan, two of China's major rice farming areas, to interview farmers about their experience growing hybrid rice. A full report from this trip is available in the January 2007 issue of Seedling: (http://www.grain.org/seedling/?id=455) Photos in this photo essay are taken by GRAIN staff, with consent of the subject in most cases, and are free of copyright. You can download the PDF version of the essay
Lessons learned from 30 years of GRAIN by GRAIN | 18 Dec 2020 What started as a passionate and determined initiative of a few activists in Europe has matured into a solid, diverse and decentralised international organisation. Over that period, the politics and vision of GRAIN have not wavered, only grown deeper. Here we offer some of the lessons that we learned and shifts we undertook, over this 30 year period, in the hope that they can be useful for others. What started as a passionate and determined initiative of a few activists in Europe has matured into a solid, diverse and decentralised international organisation. Over that period, the politics and vision of GRAIN have not wavered, only grown deeper. Here we offer some of the lessons that we learned and shifts we undertook, over this 30 year period, in the hope that they can be useful for others.
Protecting Asia's most valuable resource by GRAIN | 24 Dec 2001 Seedling - December 2001 This article discusses the implications of recent developments in relation to the US company RiceTec's patent claims on Basmati rice. It also draws attention to a more recent case of attempted biopiracy of Thailand's prized Jasmine rice. This article discusses the implications of recent developments in relation to the US company RiceTec's patent claims on Basmati rice. It also draws attention to a more recent case of attempted biopiracy of Thailand's prized Jasmine rice.
Pastoral life in Iran: a changing landscape by CENESTA | 20 Jan 2003 Seedling - January 2003 Over recent decades Iran's pastoralists have been experiencing changes that have totally altered the social, political and economic landscapes through which they must navigate. To discover the impact of these changes on local breeds, a group of pastoralists were gathered from throughout the country to discuss their experiences. The dialogue was facilitated by Taghi Farvar and Maryam Rahmanian of Irans Centre for Sustainable Development (CENESTA) Over recent decades Iran's pastoralists have been experiencing changes that have totally altered the social, political and economic landscapes through which they must navigate. To discover the impact of these changes on local breeds, a group of pastoralists were gathered from throughout the country to discuss their experiences. The dialogue was facilitated by Taghi Farvar and Maryam Rahmanian of Irans Centre for Sustainable Development (CENESTA)
Farmer's privilege under attack by GRAIN | 16 Jul 2003 Seedling - July 2003 Intellectual property rights (IPR) applied to seeds give breeders, or whoever claims to have discovered or developed a new plant variety, an exclusive monopoly right in relation to the seed. Under patent law, that monopoly right is very strong. It will generally prevent anyone from using, selling or producing the seed without the patent holder's permission. Intellectual property rights (IPR) applied to seeds give breeders, or whoever claims to have discovered or developed a new plant variety, an exclusive monopoly right in relation to the seed. Under patent law, that monopoly right is very strong. It will generally prevent anyone from using, selling or producing the seed without the patent holder's permission.
Bt Cotton....through the back door by GRAIN | 26 Dec 2001 Seedling - December 2001 Despite the absence of commercial approval for genetically engineered Bt cotton in any Asian country outside China, it is spreading fast. This article summarises the state of play in Thailand, India and Indonesia, and considers the consequences for small-scale farmers, who have historically been important contributors to the global cotton harvest. Despite the absence of commercial approval for genetically engineered Bt cotton in any Asian country outside China, it is spreading fast. This article summarises the state of play in Thailand, India and Indonesia, and considers the consequences for small-scale farmers, who have historically been important contributors to the global cotton harvest.
Update on swine flu by GRAIN | 2 Jul 2009 Seedling - July 2009 Following our report on the swine flu outbreak in April 2009, we provide a short update here (July 2009). Following our report on the swine flu outbreak in April 2009, we provide a short update here (July 2009).