Renowned economist’s outlook darkens on global food prospects - The Globe and Mail
Dr. Sachs continues to advocate for achievement of the goals and took aim Friday at both the U.S. and Canadian governments for having a “deplorable … short-term focus” when it comes to supporting critical research. Experts around the world continue to be flummoxed by the challenges presented by a rising population (projected to hit 9.1 billion people by 2050) with improved economic circumstances who will demand more meat protein in their diets. Meat is one of the most environmentally taxing foods to produce (one kilogram of beef, for example, requires 10 kilograms of grain). Add to that rising temperatures, glacial retreat, overuse of water and the onset of drought in some of the poorest and hungriest nations, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“That all means that we’re in for a major ecological challenge in the coming decade simply to keep up with where we are right now, much less be able to respond effectively to increasing population and economic growth,” Dr. Sachs said.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
ENB Vol. 9 No. 548 - Fourth Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture - Issue #4
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:02:11 +0
Subject: ENB Vol. 9 No. 548 - Fourth Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture - Issue #4
FARMERS’ RIGHTS: ETHIOPIA emphasized that farmers’ rights are a cornerstone of the Treaty, and referred delegates to the report of the Global Consultation on Farmers’ Rights (November 2010, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) (IT/GB-4/11/Circ.1), which recommended: sufficient legal space for farmers’ rights within seed and IPR laws; international legislation to avoid misappropriation of traditional knowledge; scaling up of local-level benefit-sharing arrangements; ensuring farmers’ participation in decision making; and capacity-building, financial and technical support. Many delegates welcomed the consultation’s outcomes, while some noted that participation was in a personal capacity and the outcomes were not negotiated. Many highlighted the concept of farmers’ rights as one of the Treaty’s greatest achievements.
MALAWI requested permission for a farmers’ representative to speak before delegates on this issue, but CUBA opposed, urging the GB to follow the rules of procedure.
The ASIAN REGION, supported by many, requested that the GB draft a resolution on the basis of Resolution 6/2009 on farmers’ rights to include, among others, the need to integrate traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge to broaden the PGRFA knowledge base. BRAZIL stressed the need to realize the regional workshops provided for in Resolution 6/2009.
The ASIAN REGION, the NEAR EAST and NORWAY supported creating an ad hoc technical committee on farmers’ rights and sustainable use of PGRFA. The SOUTH WEST PACIFIC expressed concern about proliferation of committees.
The ERG, CANADA and the SOUTH WEST PACIFIC stressed that the responsibility of realizing farmers’ rights rests with national governments. CAMEROON and MADAGASCAR pointed to the need for international action on farmers’ rights in the wake of natural disasters.
Subject: ENB Vol. 9 No. 548 - Fourth Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture - Issue #4
FARMERS’ RIGHTS: ETHIOPIA emphasized that farmers’ rights are a cornerstone of the Treaty, and referred delegates to the report of the Global Consultation on Farmers’ Rights (November 2010, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) (IT/GB-4/11/Circ.1), which recommended: sufficient legal space for farmers’ rights within seed and IPR laws; international legislation to avoid misappropriation of traditional knowledge; scaling up of local-level benefit-sharing arrangements; ensuring farmers’ participation in decision making; and capacity-building, financial and technical support. Many delegates welcomed the consultation’s outcomes, while some noted that participation was in a personal capacity and the outcomes were not negotiated. Many highlighted the concept of farmers’ rights as one of the Treaty’s greatest achievements.
MALAWI requested permission for a farmers’ representative to speak before delegates on this issue, but CUBA opposed, urging the GB to follow the rules of procedure.
The ASIAN REGION, supported by many, requested that the GB draft a resolution on the basis of Resolution 6/2009 on farmers’ rights to include, among others, the need to integrate traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge to broaden the PGRFA knowledge base. BRAZIL stressed the need to realize the regional workshops provided for in Resolution 6/2009.
The ASIAN REGION, the NEAR EAST and NORWAY supported creating an ad hoc technical committee on farmers’ rights and sustainable use of PGRFA. The SOUTH WEST PACIFIC expressed concern about proliferation of committees.
The ERG, CANADA and the SOUTH WEST PACIFIC stressed that the responsibility of realizing farmers’ rights rests with national governments. CAMEROON and MADAGASCAR pointed to the need for international action on farmers’ rights in the wake of natural disasters.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Implementing Farmers’ Rights
G03077: Implementing Farmers’ Rights under the FAO International Treaty on PGRFA: The need for a Broad Approach based on Biocultural Heritage - IIED Publications Database
The FAO Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) seeks to protect Farmers’ Rights through equitable benefit-sharing from the use of farmers’ crop varieties. It recognises the enormous contribution that indigenous and local communities and farmers have made to the conservation and development of crop genetic resources. Yet the ability of farmers to continue this role is seriously threatened - not only by a lack of benefit-sharing, but by a lack of secure rights to land and genetic resources and policies that promote industrial agriculture and monocultures. This paper argues for a broad approach to the protection of farmers rights, which goes beyond benefit-sharing, to include protection of farmers' customary rights over genetic resources and associated landscapes, cultural values and customary laws, on which the continued conservation and improvement of crops by farmers depends. It draws on research by IIED and partners in Peru, Panama, India, China and Kenya.
The FAO Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) seeks to protect Farmers’ Rights through equitable benefit-sharing from the use of farmers’ crop varieties. It recognises the enormous contribution that indigenous and local communities and farmers have made to the conservation and development of crop genetic resources. Yet the ability of farmers to continue this role is seriously threatened - not only by a lack of benefit-sharing, but by a lack of secure rights to land and genetic resources and policies that promote industrial agriculture and monocultures. This paper argues for a broad approach to the protection of farmers rights, which goes beyond benefit-sharing, to include protection of farmers' customary rights over genetic resources and associated landscapes, cultural values and customary laws, on which the continued conservation and improvement of crops by farmers depends. It draws on research by IIED and partners in Peru, Panama, India, China and Kenya.
International Food Concerns
ITPGR GB 4 HIGHLIGHTS:
MONDAY, 14 MARCH 2011
Delegates to the fourth session of the Governing Body (GB 4)of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the Treaty or ITPGR) met in plenary throughout the day, to hear statements and reports, address organizational
matters, and begin discussions on the Funding Strategy.
MONDAY, 14 MARCH 2011
Delegates to the fourth session of the Governing Body (GB 4)of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the Treaty or ITPGR) met in plenary throughout the day, to hear statements and reports, address organizational
matters, and begin discussions on the Funding Strategy.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Markets | DAPA/Decision And Policy Analysis
Markets | DAPA
Insights from the Campesino..its January edition, the Journal of Peasant Studies (JPS) documents the agroecology movement in Cuba. The article shows how peasant farmers have been able to boost food production via environmentally friendly methods. According to the authors, agroecology has played an important role in helping Cuba survive the economic crisis caused by the collapse of the socialist bloc in Europe and the strengthening of the US trade embargo. The academic article has been written by Peter Rosset, together with members of Cuba’s peasant agriculture movement. Here are some of the main points from the article:
1.Agroecology has become increasingly popular with grassroots organisations, peasant groups and rural social movements such as La Via Campesina (LVC) in recent years.
2.Agroecology is seen differently by different actors. However, it generally emphasises “the adaption and application of the principles in accordance with local realities”, where real attempts are made to increase soil fertility through green strategies. This is different from organic farming in developed countries, which is often misleading. For example, toxic inputs are substituted with less noxious ones. Moreover, this type of substitution does not ensure produce become organic as the land it has been farmed on has suffered from years of chemical inputs.
3.In recent years, there have been violent fluctuations in the prices of petroleum based inputs; placing these products out of the reach of peasant farmers and acting as a barrier to entry. Agroecology offers an alternative to resource scarce farmers because greener inputs are likely to be cheaper
Insights from the Campesino..its January edition, the Journal of Peasant Studies (JPS) documents the agroecology movement in Cuba. The article shows how peasant farmers have been able to boost food production via environmentally friendly methods. According to the authors, agroecology has played an important role in helping Cuba survive the economic crisis caused by the collapse of the socialist bloc in Europe and the strengthening of the US trade embargo. The academic article has been written by Peter Rosset, together with members of Cuba’s peasant agriculture movement. Here are some of the main points from the article:
1.Agroecology has become increasingly popular with grassroots organisations, peasant groups and rural social movements such as La Via Campesina (LVC) in recent years.
2.Agroecology is seen differently by different actors. However, it generally emphasises “the adaption and application of the principles in accordance with local realities”, where real attempts are made to increase soil fertility through green strategies. This is different from organic farming in developed countries, which is often misleading. For example, toxic inputs are substituted with less noxious ones. Moreover, this type of substitution does not ensure produce become organic as the land it has been farmed on has suffered from years of chemical inputs.
3.In recent years, there have been violent fluctuations in the prices of petroleum based inputs; placing these products out of the reach of peasant farmers and acting as a barrier to entry. Agroecology offers an alternative to resource scarce farmers because greener inputs are likely to be cheaper
Hot Spots in the Emerging Global Food Crisis
Hot Spots in the Emerging Global Food Crisis | Environmental Working Group
The Environmental Working Group and ActionAid have collaborated to create an interactive world map highlighting countries at highest risk of a food crisis due to the recent food price hikes. Biofuels policies have contributed to increased demand for crops like soybeans and corn which, in turn, has put pressure on prices of these and other major food staples. Data was compiled from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the World Bank. Please click on the three categories below to see where citizens are suffering the most in response to near-record prices for commodities (corn, soybeans, wheat and rice) which these countries rely on as basic food staples.
The Environmental Working Group and ActionAid have collaborated to create an interactive world map highlighting countries at highest risk of a food crisis due to the recent food price hikes. Biofuels policies have contributed to increased demand for crops like soybeans and corn which, in turn, has put pressure on prices of these and other major food staples. Data was compiled from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the World Bank. Please click on the three categories below to see where citizens are suffering the most in response to near-record prices for commodities (corn, soybeans, wheat and rice) which these countries rely on as basic food staples.
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