The Davos-isation of the climate COP by GRAIN | 15 Feb 2024 Climate UN climate talks are increasingly being used to cut carbon deals, not emissions. This is the Davos-isation of COP. In this article, GRAIN looks at how this corporate capture played out in the area of food and agriculture, the source of one-third of global emissions. UN climate talks are increasingly being used to cut carbon deals, not emissions. This is the Davos-isation of COP. In this article, GRAIN looks at how this corporate capture played out in the area of food and agriculture, the source of one-third of global emissions.
The AfDB strategy to agro-industrialise Africa by GRAIN | 31 Jul 2023 Corporations One of the main objectives of the African Development Bank is to transform African agriculture by moving towards "agro-industrialisation". Who are the actors who benefit the most? What are the implications for the peasantry? One of the main objectives of the African Development Bank is to transform African agriculture by moving towards "agro-industrialisation". Who are the actors who benefit the most? What are the implications for the peasantry?
Private equity sharks take a bite out of the 'blue economy' by GRAIN | 14 Dec 2022 Corporations The concentration of the global fishing industry into the hands of elite private equity groups does not offer communities any solution to their struggles for livelihoods, food sovereignty and justice. With all the issues dogging the industry – from labour exploitation to vast environmental pollution – there is no chance that private equity firms will bring about the right changes. The concentration of the global fishing industry into the hands of elite private equity groups does not offer communities any solution to their struggles for livelihoods, food sovereignty and justice. With all the issues dogging the industry – from labour exploitation to vast environmental pollution – there is no chance that private equity firms will bring about the right changes.
Funding industrial agriculture vs agroecology: Not a simple binary by GRAIN | 4 Aug 2022 Corporations It's often said that we need to "shift funding" from industrial agriculture to agroecology in order to advance food sovereignty. While it’s true that we need to resource and strengthen agroecology, the idea that it’s matter of moving money around, or pointing institutions in a different direction, is not as straightforward as it sounds. It's often said that we need to "shift funding" from industrial agriculture to agroecology in order to advance food sovereignty. While it’s true that we need to resource and strengthen agroecology, the idea that it’s matter of moving money around, or pointing institutions in a different direction, is not as straightforward as it sounds.
GMOs in Asia : What’s happening and who’s fighting back? by GRAIN | 13 Jul 2022 Seeds Given society’s desperate need for solutions, the corporate sector hopes their GMOs can gain public support and easily dodge biosafety regulations. In Asia, where the promotion of GM plants and foods is being pushed forcefully not only by agribusiness, but also by publicly-funded institutions, this is resulting in the persistent change of laws, regulations and standards governing GMOs. Given society’s desperate need for solutions, the corporate sector hopes their GMOs can gain public support and easily dodge biosafety regulations. In Asia, where the promotion of GM plants and foods is being pushed forcefully not only by agribusiness, but also by publicly-funded institutions, this is resulting in the persistent change of laws, regulations and standards governing GMOs.
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.
Development banks make shameless exit from a colonial land grab in the Congo by Collective statement | 1 Mar 2022 As development banks make shameless exit from DRC palm oil company, 30 civil society organisations pledge to continue fighting for redress and return of lands to communities. As development banks make shameless exit from DRC palm oil company, 30 civil society organisations pledge to continue fighting for redress and return of lands to communities.
Corporations make a killing milking Africa by GRAIN | 18 Nov 2021 Corporations Africa's vibrant dairy sector is under threat. Multinational dairy corporations see the continent as a dumping ground for their excess production and as a new frontier for their processed dairy products. They are pushing for regulations, trade measures and agribusiness projects that will undermine local dairy systems and give them monopoly control over Africa's rapidly growing urban markets. Africa's vibrant dairy sector is under threat. Multinational dairy corporations see the continent as a dumping ground for their excess production and as a new frontier for their processed dairy products. They are pushing for regulations, trade measures and agribusiness projects that will undermine local dairy systems and give them monopoly control over Africa's rapidly growing urban markets.
GRAIN rejects the UN Food Systems Summit - and shuts down in protest by GRAIN | 17 Sep 2021 As our own form of protest against this dangerous summit, GRAIN will shut down its website and social media platforms that day. We need real solutions to overcome the global food crisis -- based on the needs of small-scale farmers, fisherfolk, pastoralists and indigenous people – and to move us towards food sovereignty. As our own form of protest against this dangerous summit, GRAIN will shut down its website and social media platforms that day. We need real solutions to overcome the global food crisis -- based on the needs of small-scale farmers, fisherfolk, pastoralists and indigenous people – and to move us towards food sovereignty.
A label for bicycle chicken? Time to ask some questions! by COPAGEN & GRAIN | 10 Sep 2021 Corporations On July 2021, the government of Burkina Faso announced the launch of a project to provide a label for “bicycle chicken”, as local chicken is known there and in other African countries. According to the government, the aim of this label is to protect local Burkina Faso chicken from imported broiler chickens. But how can it be attributed to just one country? And if the aim is to protect a breed of chicken via the market, doesn’t creating a label run the risk of promoting its industrialisation? On July 2021, the government of Burkina Faso announced the launch of a project to provide a label for “bicycle chicken”, as local chicken is known there and in other African countries. According to the government, the aim of this label is to protect local Burkina Faso chicken from imported broiler chickens. But how can it be attributed to just one country? And if the aim is to protect a breed of chicken via the market, doesn’t creating a label run the risk of promoting its industrialisation?
African faith communities tell Gates Foundation, “Big farming is no solution for Africa” by SAFCEI (Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute) | 4 Aug 2021 Following the United Nations (UN) Food Systems Pre-Summit in Rome last week – a prequel to the Head of State-level Summit in New York, this September – faith communities from across Africa continue to call attention to the wide range of far-reaching consequences of current industrial agricultural models. Following the United Nations (UN) Food Systems Pre-Summit in Rome last week – a prequel to the Head of State-level Summit in New York, this September – faith communities from across Africa continue to call attention to the wide range of far-reaching consequences of current industrial agricultural models.
How the Gates Foundation is driving the food system, in the wrong direction by GRAIN | 17 Jun 2021 Corporations | Multimedia Over the past 17 years, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has spent nearly US$6 billion on agriculture. In a new report, GRAIN analyses all the food and agriculture grants the foundation has made up until 2020, and reveals that while the Foundation allegedly prioritises African farmers, the vast majority of its funding actually goes to groups in North America and Europe. Over the past 17 years, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has spent nearly US$6 billion on agriculture. In a new report, GRAIN analyses all the food and agriculture grants the foundation has made up until 2020, and reveals that while the Foundation allegedly prioritises African farmers, the vast majority of its funding actually goes to groups in North America and Europe.
The global farmland grab goes green by GRAIN | 10 May 2021 These days the companies that are in the business of selling farmland to billionaires and pension funds are peddling it as a green, sustainable and socially responsible investment. Carbon credits and net-zero pledges are fueling a new round of farmland buying by billionaires and pension funds that will undermine real climate solutions. These days the companies that are in the business of selling farmland to billionaires and pension funds are peddling it as a green, sustainable and socially responsible investment. Carbon credits and net-zero pledges are fueling a new round of farmland buying by billionaires and pension funds that will undermine real climate solutions.
GM waxy maize: The gene edited Trojan Horse is moving through the gates by GRAIN | 29 Mar 2021 At least five countries-- Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile and the US-- are allowing a variety of maize genetically modified (GM) with a genome editing technique called CRISPR to be released without the risk assessments and regulations required of GM crops. Other countries could soon follow. At least five countries-- Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile and the US-- are allowing a variety of maize genetically modified (GM) with a genome editing technique called CRISPR to be released without the risk assessments and regulations required of GM crops. Other countries could soon follow.
The Great Reset: Bill Gates & farming by Russell Brand | 21 Feb 2021 A great video by actor Russell Brand on how Bill Gates is linked to farming and Indian farmers protests, and drawing extensively from analysis by GRAIN and Vandana Shiva. A great video by actor Russell Brand on how Bill Gates is linked to farming and Indian farmers protests, and drawing extensively from analysis by GRAIN and Vandana Shiva.