GMO enthusiasts insist that organic, agroecological farming could never feed the world, writes Colin Todhunter. But it has been feeding us all for millennia - and it's the only way to continue while enriching the soils and biodiversity on which all farming depends. As Mahatma Gandhi once observed, industrial agriculture is but a nine-day wonder. And its time will soon be up.
… Organic agriculture, agroecology and the parallel … As Mahatma Gandhi once observed, industrial agriculture is but a nine-day wonder. And its … called on countries to reorient their agriculture policies to promote sustainable …
India celebrates its Independence Day today, writes Colin Todhunter. But the highly visible system of British colonial dominance has been replaced by a new imperial hegemony: the invisible, systemic rule of transnational capital, enforced by global institutions like the World Bank, while US-based global agribusiness corporations have stepped into the boots of the former East India Company.
… India to shift hundreds of millions out of agriculture. In return for up to £90 billion … system, reduce subsidies and run down public agriculture institutions and offer incentives … WTO and the US-India Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture, there is a deliberate strategy to …
Among Cuba's greatest achievements is its organic farming sector, writes Miguel Altieri. Developed in the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union, small agroecological farms now employ 300,000 campesinos and provide an abundance of healthy fruit and vegetables. But now US food and agribusiness corporations are eyeing up a multi-billion dollar business opportunity.
… Cuba's sustainable agriculture at risk in US diplomatic thaw … and improve life for its citizens. But in agriculture, US investment could cause harm … strategy that characterizes modern industrial agriculture. It encourages local production by …
Agroecology is key to retaking control over food, farming and land from the 'monstrous machine' of agribusiness, biotech, big finance and 'free trade', writes Colin Todhunter, as it represents a truly viable alternative to agriculture for corporate profit. But such are the powers ranged against the world's small farmers that it must be supported by a broad-based, global people's movement.
… it represents a truly viable alternative to agriculture for corporate profit. But such are … becoming increasingly apparent that food and agriculture across the world is in crisis. … of millions. This crisis stems from food and agriculture being wedded to power structures …
The Gates Foundation - widely assumed to be 'doing good', is imposing a neoliberal model of development and corporate domination that's opening up Africa's agriculture to land and seed-grabbing global agribusiness, writes Colin Todhunter. In the process it is foreclosing on the real solutions - enhancing food security, food sovereignty and the move to agroecological farming.
… the neoliberal plunder of African agriculture Colin Todhunter | 21st January … domination that's opening up Africa's agriculture to land and seed-grabbing global … influence on issues of global health and agriculture. The charges are laid in a new …
Bayer's $66 billion takeover of Monsanto represents another big click on the ratchet of corporate power over farming and food, writes Colin Todhunter. With the 'big six' of global agribusiness now set to turn into the 'even bigger three', farmers and consumers are facing more GMOs and pesticides, less choice, and deeper price gouging. Agroecology has never looked more attractive.
… Monsanto and Bayer: food and agriculture just took a turn for the worse … of this magnitude cannot be the standard for agriculture, nor should we allow it to … and Monsanto marks the fifth major deal in agriculture in the last year ... "For the last …
The TTIP 'trade agreement between the US and the EU would devastate EU farms as it opens them up to competition from larger, less regulated US operations, writes Dario Sarmadi. This is the conclusion of a new study to be published tomorrow, which also finds that small-scale farmers would be the first to go - with the big winners the large agri-food corporations.
… TTIP: the downfall of European agriculture? Dario Sarmadi EurActiv.de | 14th … blocs, then entire sectors of European agriculture could be endangered. "No one can … both cost-effective and hazardous. Regional agriculture under threat The study picked out …
Brexit gives the UK the chance to reform the system of agricultural subsidies that rewards wealthy landowners at the expense of taxpayers, the global south, the environment, and small scale sustainable farmers, writes Alex Scrivener. But strong, effective campaigning will be needed to bring about the changes we desperately need.
… the EU could actually be a positive thing for agriculture. Free from the shackles of the … DEFRA, the government department in charge of agriculture and the environment, could …
With Brexit the UK will have to chose between two visions of our farming future, writes Keith Tyrell. Will it be heavily subsidised corporate agribusiness that ravages both nature and small, high quality farmers. Or will we seize the chance to build a sustainable food and farming system that supports wildlife, landscape, family farms, organic production and diverse rural economies?
… Dark days ahead for British agriculture? Or green shoots of a brighter … presents a unique opportunity to shape UK agriculture for a generation to come. Formal … and switch to an even more intensive model of agriculture. The EU's pesticide regulation …
New research indicates that agricultural policies aimed at alleviating poverty in Africa are making things worse, writes Lawrence Woodward. Backed by 'development' aid, big business is forcing modern farming practices on unwilling rural communities. Only the rich benefit, while the poor carry the burden of landlessness and debt.
… Intensive, corporate agriculture is increasing poverty in Africa … countries are smallholder farmers reliant on agriculture. Dr Neil Dawson, the study's lead … of the 2008 International Assessment of Agriculture Science and Technology (IAASTD) …
Bhaskar Save, the 'Gandhi of natural farming', died last year after a lifetime of organic growing and determined campaigning against the destruction of India's traditional, sustainable agriculture, writes Colin Todhunter. His 2006 open letter, published here, sets out a devastating critique of industrial agriculture and its impacts, and an eloquent and timely agroecological manifesto.
… of India's traditional, sustainable agriculture, writes Colin Todhunter. His 2006 … sets out a devastating critique of industrial agriculture and its impacts, and an eloquent … 2010, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) honoured Save …
At a post-Brexit crossroads, we may still articulate a new vision for the countryside, one which expresses the concerns and desires of stakeholders - farmers, conservationists, land and land tenure reform advocates, communities, and environmentalists writes JAMES LUCHTE
… Brexit threatens a radical shakeup of UK agriculture with the withdrawal of billions of … of smooth transition, the transformation of agriculture will lead to a radical shift in … plunge toward overdevelopment and corporate agriculture. Indeed, while the UK will leave …
How to make farming 'climate friendly' was one of the hot topics at COP22 in Marrakesh, writes Natalie Bennett, with two contrasting models on show: 'climate smart' agriculture, with its reliance on industrial farming systems; and agroecology, which works with nature to build fertile, high-carbon, moisture-retaining soils, and sustain employment for millions of skilled land workers.
… contrasting models on show: 'climate smart' agriculture, with its reliance on industrial … for millions of skilled land workers. Agriculture was one key focus for the global … (about 70%) involves clearing of land for agriculture, and that account for another 12% …
India's farmers are the targets of structural violence aimed at uprooting indigenous agriculture and replacing it with an intensive corporate model based on GMOs and agrochemicals, writes Colin Todhunter. But as Monsanto's GM cotton succumbs to insect infestations despite repeated pesticide applications, agroecological farming is an increasingly attractive option for cultivators.
… violence aimed at uprooting indigenous agriculture and replacing it with an intensive … such as the Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture and the Transatlantic Trade and … (TTIP), which help grant it access to agriculture across the globe and recast it for …
Conventional agriculture has made an enemy of evolution as pests and diseases develop resistance to biocides and over-bred hybrids succumb to them, writes Salvatore Ceccarelli. But there is another way - for farmers to participate in breeding seed lines that are continuously adapting to their environment, with ever improving yields, flavour, pest-resistance, and other sought-after qualities.
… Health wheat breeding-cut.jpg Conventional agriculture has made an enemy of evolution as … this process. Problems created by industrial agriculture The transition to modern plant … term Green Revolution is used to indicate an agriculture development strategy based on the …
A new study shows that the market-leading Roundup herbicide kills soil microbiota at concentrations 50 times lower than used in agriculture, writes Claire Robinson. The findings raise serious new concerns about the environmental impacts of glyphosate herbicides.
… at concentrations 50 times lower than used in agriculture, writes Claire Robinson. The … a dilution 100 times less than that used in agriculture - an environmentally relevant …
News headlines today suggest that a UN report on glyphosate residues has given the controversial herbicide a clean bill of health, writes Georgina Downs. But that's seriously misleading: the panel concludes that exposure to the chemical in food is unlikely to cause cancer. But that does not apply to those exposed to it occupationally or who live near sprayed fields.
… weed killer product and widely used in agriculture and by gardeners, is unlikely to … a new safety review by United Nations health, agriculture and food experts." Yet these … from a Joint Meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations …
For decades Israel has been driving Palestinian farmers off their land by imposing restrictions on agriculture, writes JONATHAN COOK. But one company, Canaan Fair Trade, has found an innovative way to resist peacefully, increasing resilience and prosperity in rural West Bank communities, and forging international alliances in the global movement for good food and farming.
… off their land by imposing restrictions on agriculture, writes JONATHAN COOK. But one … outside the main cities depended on agriculture, working their small holdings as … rural areas where Palestinians had practised agriculture and which were being actively …
What's the point of farming? To produce an abundance of wholesome food, writes Colin Tudge, while supporting a flourishing rural economy and a sustainable, biodiverse countryside. Yet the powers that be, determined to advance industrial agriculture at all costs, are achieving the precise opposite. It's time for a revolution in our food and farming culture, led by the people at large.
… that be, determined to advance industrial agriculture at all costs, are achieving the … then we need all to re-think and re-design agriculture - what amount to an Agrarian … who do not fall by the wayside. The kind of agriculture that the oligarchs now advocate - …
Perhaps all the 'do gooders' busy forcing industrial models of agriculture onto poor but independent African farmers really do think they are helping them, writes Colin Todhunter. But if so they are deeply deluded. All they will achieve is the takeover of export-oriented agribusiness and GMOs, the destruction of agroecological farming systems, and a future of debt and landlessness.
… embedding agribusiness and GMOs into African agriculture Colin Todhunter | 8th April 2016 … gooders' busy forcing industrial models of agriculture onto poor but independent African … expanding influence of these MNCs in African agriculture." The big money behind the GMO …
The European Parliament has had a great week, writes Molly Scott Cato MEP - for those who oppose GMOs in food and farming. MEPs voted on five occasions to say no to GMOs, and gave their support to agroecology as the only sustainable way to feed the world.
… Bayer with Monsanto. As a member of both the Agriculture and Economics Committees in the … with a pesticide. The problems of industrial agriculture will not be solved through GMOs or … these systems, rather than pouring 67% of its agriculture research budget into biotechnology …
Cornell student Robert Schooler was shocked at the pro-GMO propaganda emanating from Cornell University and it's Gates-funded 'Alliance for Science'. But rather than just complain about it, he decided to fight back - with his popular 'GMOWTF' website and an important lecture series this fall by GMO experts on the Cornell campus - the ones that Cornell has been ignoring for years.
… is Cornell's deep ties to industrial GMO agriculture, and the affiliated corporations … freshman, deeply unaware of our current GMO agriculture paradigm, and my university's … fascination with the precursor to nutrition: agriculture. I became particularly interested …
Agriculture is big business and with the EU pumping money at the sector, the corporate profiteers are holding all the aces, writes Chris Lang. The documentary ‘Land Grabbing’ investigates what happens when well-financed agro-investors take over rural communities' land and water.
… exposing the impacts of large-scale agriculture on local communities Chris Lang … Sierra Leone oil-palm-indonesia-cut.jpg Agriculture is big business and with the EU … documentary looks at large-scale industrial agriculture in Romania and contrasts this with …
The world is in the grip of a structural war against people, land, economies and ecosystems, writes Colin Todhunter. It is being waged by a quartet of organised criminal interests bent on monopolizing energy, money, food and violence across the globe. But a deep-rooted resistance against their 'neoliberal' doctrine of death and destruction is fighting back.
… from the petro-chemical industrial model of agriculture and food production, not only … which continues to colonise global agriculture and is in effect part of an … see this and this ) that regards food and agriculture as integral to US strategic …