THE CGIAR'S SYSTEMWIDE REVIEW by GRAIN | 25 Dec 1998 Seedling - December 1998 It was a long time coming, but was it worth the wait? The CGIAR's third external review does little to shake the system up and sends mixed messages to members and donors about its future direction. It was a long time coming, but was it worth the wait? The CGIAR's third external review does little to shake the system up and sends mixed messages to members and donors about its future direction.
Hot air over Hoodia by Rachel Wynberg | 13 Oct 2010 Seedling - October 2010 Almost 20 years ago the Convention on Biological Diversity was signed into existence. Now one of its core provisions – the creation of a regime that provides for equitable access to and benefit sharing from biodiversity – appears close to agreement. In October, the Parties to the Convention will meet in Nagoya, Japan, and are expected to agree on a final text. Meanwhile, at the national level, governments have started legislating on this issue. In this article, Rachel Wynberg analyses what this benefit sharing amounts to in the case of the San people of southern Africa, who have seen Hoodia – a plant used locally to stave off hunger – propelled into the centre of commercial interest. Almost 20 years ago the Convention on Biological Diversity was signed into existence. Now one of its core provisions – the creation of a regime that provides for equitable access to and benefit sharing from biodiversity – appears close to agreement. In October, the Parties to the Convention will meet in Nagoya, Japan, and are expected to agree on a final text. Meanwhile, at the national level, governments have started legislating on this issue. In this article, Rachel Wynberg analyses what this benefit sharing amounts to in the case of the San people of southern Africa, who have seen Hoodia – a plant used locally to stave off hunger – propelled into the centre of commercial interest.
TUG OF WAR OVER LIFE PATENTS by GRAIN | 25 Jun 1998 Seedling - June 1998 Recent international negotiations suggest that some governments are behaving more like industry's handmaidens rather than champions of their people. But people all over the world are making it known that they will not sit back and allow corporate greed to appropriate their livelihoods. Recent international negotiations suggest that some governments are behaving more like industry's handmaidens rather than champions of their people. But people all over the world are making it known that they will not sit back and allow corporate greed to appropriate their livelihoods.
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.
with Carlos Correa by GRAIN | 18 Jan 2003 Seedling - January 2003 GRAIN's article in the October 2002 issue of Seedling entitled Biopiracy by another name: a review of the FAO-CGIAR trusteeship system stimulated quite some debate. To air some of the sticky points, we asked intellectual property rights expert Carlos Correa to share his views. GRAIN's article in the October 2002 issue of Seedling entitled Biopiracy by another name: a review of the FAO-CGIAR trusteeship system stimulated quite some debate. To air some of the sticky points, we asked intellectual property rights expert Carlos Correa to share his views.
Interview with Ibrahim Ouédraogo by GRAIN | 20 Oct 2004 Seedling - October 2004 Ibrahim Ouédraogo is Secretary-General of INADES-Formation, which brings together the African Institute for Economic and Social Development and the African Training Centre. It is a pan-African association of national organisations with commonly held objectives, strategies and financial resources working primarily with rural communities in ten countries of West, Central and East Africa. Ibrahim Ouédraogo is Secretary-General of INADES-Formation, which brings together the African Institute for Economic and Social Development and the African Training Centre. It is a pan-African association of national organisations with commonly held objectives, strategies and financial resources working primarily with rural communities in ten countries of West, Central and East Africa.
A Global Week of Action against GM, in Andhra Pradesh, India by GRAIN & DDS | 20 Apr 2005 Seedling - April 2005
FARMERS ' RIGHTS: TIME TO ACT by GRAIN | 25 Apr 1991 Seedling - April 1991 From 15 to 19 April, the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources meets to continue the debate on how to manage the earth 's genetic resources. One of the main issues on the agenda is the implementation of Farmers ' Rights. If Farmers ' Rights is meant as a compensation to farmers for their impressive role in the conservation and development of germplasm, it has to provide for mechanisms that ensure that farmers really benefit from it. This article dives into the background and concludes that there is a gap between the consensus reached in FAO and the day to day practice in the farmers ' fields. It argues for a direct voice from grassroots organisations in the priority-setting and implementation of genetic resources activities. Most importantly, it stresses that the FAO diplomats now have the opportunity and the obligation the move beyond words and start acting. From 15 to 19 April, the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources meets to continue the debate on how to manage the earth 's genetic resources. One of the main issues on the agenda is the implementation of Farmers ' Rights. If Farmers ' Rights is meant as a compensation to farmers for their impressive role in the conservation and development of germplasm, it has to provide for mechanisms that ensure that farmers really benefit from it. This article dives into the background and concludes that there is a gap between the consensus reached in FAO and the day to day practice in the farmers ' fields. It argues for a direct voice from grassroots organisations in the priority-setting and implementation of genetic resources activities. Most importantly, it stresses that the FAO diplomats now have the opportunity and the obligation the move beyond words and start acting.
TRADITIONAL PLANTS IN KENYA: REVERSING THE APATHY by GRAIN | 15 Apr 1991 Seedling - April 1991 As many of the trees, vegetables and fruits traditionally grown by farmers around the world are ignored by official research and extension services, indigenous knowledge about how they are grown and used for food, medicines and shelter is under threat too. But peoples ' organizations are striving to turn the tide. We report from Kenya where women farmers are showing renewed interest in these neglected crops. As many of the trees, vegetables and fruits traditionally grown by farmers around the world are ignored by official research and extension services, indigenous knowledge about how they are grown and used for food, medicines and shelter is under threat too. But peoples ' organizations are striving to turn the tide. We report from Kenya where women farmers are showing renewed interest in these neglected crops.
EUROPEAN NETWORK ON GENETIC RESOURCES MEETS by GRAIN | 25 Jul 1991 Seedling - July 1991 On 24-30 June, GRAIN hosted the Second European Network Meeting on Genetic Resources and Biotechnology in Barcelona, Spain. The meeting brought together some 70 people from 50 European non-governmental organisations engaged in public information, campaign and practical activities to strengthen local control over genetic diversity and biotechnology. Four days of brainstorming yielded a range of new analyses and priorities for action on key issues in the fields of grassroots conservation, biotechnology, biodiversity and Farmers ' Rights. On 24-30 June, GRAIN hosted the Second European Network Meeting on Genetic Resources and Biotechnology in Barcelona, Spain. The meeting brought together some 70 people from 50 European non-governmental organisations engaged in public information, campaign and practical activities to strengthen local control over genetic diversity and biotechnology. Four days of brainstorming yielded a range of new analyses and priorities for action on key issues in the fields of grassroots conservation, biotechnology, biodiversity and Farmers ' Rights.