Brave New Seeds: The Threat of GM Crops to Farmers (Global Issues)

by RobertAliBracDeLaPerriere (Author), Franck Seuret (Author), VijayaRao (Translator), Manisha Soani (Translator)

New
Paperback
2000
$30.75

Consumers have taken the lead in rejecting the biotech industry's determination to foist GMOs on an unsuspecting, and unconsulted, public. This book gives a voice for the first time to farmers. They are the people being pressured by half a dozen giant corporaitons to grow these genetically engineered crops. What are the possible downsides for them, particularly for those hundreds of millions of farmers living in the developing countries? On their environment? On their health? On their independence? On their tenuous hold in the marketplace? This book comes out of a dialogue between farmers' representatives and scientists and others knowledgeable about the issue. The result is explanations of what is happening, what is at stake, and clear statement of principles and urgently needed measures which should guide governments and communities in bringing this profit-motivated deployment of scientific power under democratic control. Franck Seuret is a journalist specialising in rural development, economics and biotechnology. Robert Ali Brac de la Perriere is an international consultant in the organization, training and management of plant genetic resource programmes.

Synopsis

Consumers have taken the lead in rejecting the biotech industry's determination to foist GMOs on an unsuspecting, and unconsulted, public. This book gives a voice for the first time to farmers. They are the people being pressured by half a dozen giant corporaitons to grow these genetically engineered crops. What are the possible downsides for them, particularly for those hundreds of millions of farmers living in the developing countries? On their environment? On their health? On their independence? On their tenuous hold in the marketplace? This book comes out of a dialogue between farmers' representatives and scientists and others knowledgeable about the issue. The result is explanations of what is happening, what is at stake, and clear statement of principles and urgently needed measures which should guide governments and communities in bringing this profit-motivated deployment of scientific power under democratic control. Franck Seuret is a journalist specialising in rural development, economics and biotechnology. Robert Ali Brac de la Perriere is an international consultant in the organization, training and management of plant genetic resource programmes.

$30.75

Quantity

20+ in stock

More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 160
Publisher: Zed Books Ltd
Published: 01 Oct 2000
ISBN 10: 1856499006
ISBN 13: 9781856499002

Media Reviews

'Seeds belong to farmers - the discoverers, selectors and protectors of humanity's agricultural biodiversity for the past eight millennia. The present push by big business to enslave farmers and put both their livelihoods and the very existence of humankind in peril needs to be exposed?. The authors are particularly to be congratulated for putting farmers first in this debate and providing a clear explanation of the terminology being used by the media, policy makers and scientists.' Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher, spokesperson for the 'Like Minded Group' in the negotiations of the Cartagena Protocol on Safety in Biotechnology 'An impressively cogent summary of the hazards of GMOs and the urgency of worldwide action. Brave New Seeds embraces the central contributions of farmers in the South to the integrity of our food and the diversity of world agriculture.' Brian Tokar, editor of Redesigning Life? The Worldwide Challenge to Genetic Engineering

Author Bio

Franck Seuret is a journalist. After working with peasants in Niger for a couple of years in the mid 90s, he then started writing for various French magazines, specialising in rural development, economic issues in developing countries and biotechnology. Robert Ali Brac de la Perriere is an international consultant. With a doctorate in plant breeding, he specialises in the organization, training and mangement of plant genetic resource programmes for the development of in-situ conservation activities. He has extensive experience in managing interdisciplinary consultations and organising colloquia between NGOs and scientific institutions, particularly in the Mediterranean and African regions.