Bill and Melinda Gates Promoting the Use of GM Seeds in Africa

At the end of January, while responding to a question posed at an event in Brussels, the principals of the Gates Foundation promoted the use of GMO seeds to fight malnutrition in Africa. Melinda Gates outlined the success that she believes GMOs can have in overcoming drought, flood, and climate change. Bill Gates followed and […]

Africa-US Summit Report

On March 3rd, AGRA Watch published a full report on the Africa-US Food Sovereignty Strategy Summit, which it hosted last October. The report describes the current and historical context of both US and African agriculture, as summit participants shared in the meetings. It also includes pieces of original research conducted by AGRA Watch on the […]

Human Feeding Trials of GM Banana Delayed

Earlier this month, an article in the Des Moines Register announced the delay of Iowa State University’s human feeding trials of the genetically modified “Super Banana.” AGRA Watch and its partners have consistently raised concerns regarding the development of this GMO. We condemn the feeding trials because the human subjects are unlikely to be aware […]

“US Human Trials of GM banana for Africa Widely Condemned”

Today, AGRA Watch partners, the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa and the US Food Sovereignty Alliance, released a press release discussing their open letter to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Wendy White from Iowa State University, and the Human Institutional Review Board of Iowa State University. The open letter, which is supported […]

“Don’t Ask How to Feed the 9 Billion”

Mark Bittman, food journalist, author and columnist for The New York Times, recently published an article telling people, “Don’t Ask How to feed the 9 Billion.” Instead he suggests asking, “How can we help end poverty?” because, as Bittman argues, hunger and malnutrition are side effects of poverty and a flawed food system, not of […]

Statement of Africa-US Food Sovereignty Strategy Summit

On Oct 10-14, 2014 Community Alliance for Global Justice/AGRA Watch invited African leaders from six nations representing regional and continent-wide networks to Seattle to meet with leaders from over a dozen US organizations as part of the Africa-US Food Sovereignty Strategy Summit. The aim of the Summit was to promote farmer-led solutions to hunger and […]

Africa-US Food Sovereignty Strategy Summit in the News

Crosscut recently published an article discussing The Gates Foundation’s support of AGRA. Daniel Maingi, Kenyan food activist, Director of Growth Partners Africa, and one of the many participants in this weekend’s Africa-US Food Sovereignty Strategy Summit, was featured in the piece, voicing his concerns about the new green revolution in Africa. Maingi notes that AGRA […]

Socioeconomic Considerations and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a multilateral treaty, which addresses issues involving the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits that arise from the use of genetic resources. It entered into force in 1993. Included in its text is provision 19-3, which states […]

Vandana Shiva and The New Yorker

The New Yorker recently published an article entitled “Seeds of Doubt,” written by Michael Specter, which attempts to debunk Vandana Shiva’s stance on the use of GM seeds. Shiva is outspoken in her claims that the use of GM seed increases farmer debt and environmental degradation, and contributes to poverty, hunger, and suicide. In responding […]