<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Vietnam also needs to be very careful. Just as with GMOs, there will continue to be massive pressure from these global giants to dominate agricultural production here. CS</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><div><div><div><font size="1"><b><span style="color:rgb(116,27,71)"><i><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;display:inline"></div>CHUCK SEARCY<br></i></span></b></font></div><div><font size="1"><b><span style="color:rgb(116,27,71)"><i>Project RENEW / VFP Chapter 160<br></i></span></b></font></div><div><font size="1"><b><span style="color:rgb(116,27,71)"><i>Agent Orange Working Group<br></i></span></b></font></div><div><font size="1"><b><span style="color:rgb(116,27,71)"><i>71 Trần Quốc Toản, Hà Nội, Việt Nam</i></span></b></font></div><font size="1"><b><span style="color:rgb(116,27,71)"><i></i></span></b></font></div><font size="1"><b><span style="color:rgb(116,27,71)"><i>M +8 490 342 0769<br></i></span></b></font></div><font size="1"><b><span style="color:rgb(116,27,71)"><i>E <a href="mailto:chuckusvn@gmail.com" target="_blank">chuckusvn@gmail.com</a><br></i></span></b></font></div><i style="font-family:arial,sans-serif"><font size="1"><b><span style="color:rgb(116,27,71)">Sk chucksearcy</span></b></font></i><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:4.5pt 0in 3.75pt;line-height:17.25pt;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:'Arial Black',sans-serif;color:rgb(115,115,115);background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="mailto:http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2799927/grabbing_africas_seeds_usaid_eu_and_gates_foundation_back_agribusiness_seed_takeover.html">The
Ecologist</a></span><b><span style="font-size:19.5pt;font-family:'Arial Black',sans-serif;color:black"></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(115,115,115);background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">23rd
March 2015</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:4.5pt 0in 3.75pt;line-height:17.25pt;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><b><span style="font-size:16.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">Grabbing Africa's seeds:
USAID, EU and Gates Foundation back agribusiness seed takeover<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(115,115,115);background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">Stephen Greenberg & Oliver Tickell</span><b><span style="font-size:16.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6pt;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">The latest salvo in the
battle over Africa's seed systems has been fired, writes Stephen Greenberg,
with the Gates Foundation and USAID playing puppet-masters to Africa's
governments - now meeting in Addis Ababa - as they drive forward
corporation-friendly seed regulations that exclude and marginalize the small
farmers whose seeds and labour feed the continent.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(156,156,156);background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">A battle is currently being waged over Africa's
seed systems. After decades of neglect and weak investment in African
agriculture, there is renewed interest in funding African agriculture.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">These new investments take the form of
philanthropic and international development aid as well as private investment
funds. They are based on the potentially huge profitability of African
agriculture - and seed systems are a key target.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">Right
now ministers are co-ordinating their next steps at the 34th</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="http://www.comesa.int/" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">COMESA</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">(Common Market for Eastern and
Southern Africa)<a href="http://www.au.int/en/content/18thCOMESA_SUMMIT" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">Intergovernmental
Committee meeting</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">that
kicked off yesterday, 22nd March, in preparation for the main Summit that will
follow on 30th and 31st March 2015.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">COMESA's
key aim is to pave the way for a</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> <i>"Continental Free Trade Area
(CFTA) in 2017 under the auspices of the African Union"</i> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">with uniform regulations,
including on agricultural products, seeds and GMOs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">A
recent meeting on biotechnology and biosafety was held to establish a</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> <i>"COMESA
biotechnology and biosafety policy implementation plan"</i> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">(COMBIP) to roll out from
2015-2019,</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> <i>"leading to increased biotechnology applications and
agricultural commodity trade in the region."</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">But read between the lines and its real purpose
was to facilitate the planting and commercialization of GMO crops in Africa all
at one go, instead of country by country. USAID Regional representatives for
East Africa, based in Nairobi, were present to monitor the process and ensure
the desired outcome.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">And on
the agenda for the main COMESA Summit next week is the approval of a 'Master
Plan' for the implementation of the</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="http://foodtradeesa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/COMESA-Seed-Harmonisation-Regulations.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">COMESA
Harmonised Seed Trade Regulations</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">agreed last year in Kinshasa.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">The
regulations,</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="http://www.seattleglobaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/AFSA.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">according
to the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa</span></a>,</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> <i>"will
greatly facilitate agricultural transformation in the COMESA member states
towards industrialization of farming systems based on the logic of the highly
controversial, failed and hopelessly doomed Green Revolution model of
agriculture."</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">They</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> <i>"promote
only one type of seed breeding, namely industrial seed breeding involving the
use of advanced breeding technologies. The entire orientation of the seed
Regulations is towards genetically uniform, commercially bred varieties in
terms of seed quality control and variety registration."</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">No place for small farmers!</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">"What is very clear is that small farmers in Africa, seeking
to develop or maintain varieties, create local seed enterprises or cultivate
locally adapted varieties are excluded from the proposed COMESA Seed
Certification System and Variety Release System, because these varieties
willnot fulfill the requirements for distinctness, uniformity and stability
(DUS).</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">"Landraces or farmers' varieties usually display a high
degree of genetic heterogeneity and are adapted to the local environment under
which they were developed. In addition, such varieties are not necessarily
distinct from each other."</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">COMESA's</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="http://programmes.comesa.int/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94&Itemid=111" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">key
agricultural objectives</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">are to raise production by 6% per year,</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> <i>"integrate
farmers into the market economy"</i></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">, make Africa a</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> <i>"strategic player in agricultural
science and technology development".</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">To this end USAID is funding COMESA programmes
for 'Coordinated Agricultural Research and Technology Interventions' and 'A
Regional Approach Towards Biotechnology' - in other words, to create uniform
corporation-friendly regulations for seeds, agro-chemicals and GMOs across the
region.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">More than 80% of Africa's seed supply currently
comes from millions of small-scale farmers recycling and exchanging seed from
year to year. This seed meets very diverse needs in very diverse conditions.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">Farmers know the quality of 'recycled' seed,
selected and saved from their own crops. It is cheap and readily available. New
varieties can be introduced through informal trade within villages and beyond.
This system may not be perfect, but it has been broadly functional for
generations.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">The so-called 'formal' seed sector is a
relatively new addition in Africa and has a narrow focus on commercial crops,
especially hybrid maize. This commercial seed may offer yield advantages, but
only in the right conditions, e.g. when coupled with continuous use of
synthetic fertilizer, irrigation, larger pieces of land and mono-cropping - the
Green Revolution package.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">Seed production in the formal sector goes through
a number of stages, starting with breeders' and pre-basic seed which has high
varietal purity; then foundation / basic seed, which is a bulking up of the
breeders' seed; then larger quantities of certified seed are produced for
retail sale to farmers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">In most countries in Africa, the public sector
was responsible for certified seed production and distribution. Lack of
resources, especially following structural adjustment imposed by the World Bank
and IMF in the 1980s and 1990s, reduced the effectiveness of this system.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">As a result, availability of certified seed was
sometimes limited and farmers often found it difficult to access this seed.
Farmers continued relying on the tried and trusted seed saved on their farms
and exchanged with one another.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">The new commercialisation agenda</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">The new commercialisation agenda is based on the
premise that the public sector is inherently incapable of meeting farmer
requirements for quality seed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">This agenda is led by USAID and other G8
countries especially through the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition,
and philanthropic institutions like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
(BMGF) working hand in hand with multinational corporations (MNCs) including
Monsanto, Syngenta, Yara and others.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">The EU
also</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="http://www.comesa.int/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">funded a
key programme</span></a>, now concluded, the 'COMESA Regional Agro-Inputs
Programme' (COMRAP), to the tune of €20 million, which aims to</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> <i>"reach
farmers in each country to improve their sustainable access to agro-inputs and
services"</i></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">,</span><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> "strengthen
the capacity for the improvement of seed quality</span></i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">" and</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> <i>"harmonise
seed trade regulations throughout the COMESA region"</i></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">The first line of attack was to argue for the
privatisation of certified seed production and distribution, ostensibly to
generate competition. This was identified as a profitable niche in a sector
otherwise characterised by low demand, partly because farmers did not have the
resources to pay for commercial seed, and partly because their seed needs were
already being met through existing systems of production and distribution
managed by farmers themselves.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">Over
the past two decades, a long and slow process of seed law reviews, sponsored by
USAID and the G8, BMGF and others has</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="https://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/270-general/52686-g8-new-alliance-for-food-security-and-nutrition-not-supportive-of-small-scale-food-producers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">secured
this space for private companies to profit</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">from seed production.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">This opened the door to MNC involvement in seed
production, including the acquisition of every sizeable seed enterprise on the
continent. The focus remained on hybrid maize and a few other commercial crops
with high demand at national level, or niche on demand.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">It now appears that phase two of the
commercialisation agenda is being launched. This begins the process of
privatising the production of early generation seed (EGS), the breeder and
foundation seed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">Already</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="http://www.acbio.org.za/index.php/publications/seedfood-sovereignty/408-submission-by-acb-and-african-csos-to-aripo-on-its-draft-pvp-law-and-policies-november-2012" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">plant
variety protection laws are being enacted</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">to allow for private ownership
of germplasm previously in the public domain. Now Green Revolution pundits are
looking for opportunities to remove public control of potentially profitable
processes in EGS production.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">Gates, USAID and Deloitte study ways to commercialise early
generation seed production</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><br></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">To this
end, BMGF and USAID</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="http://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/strategy/solutions/monitor-deloitte-strategy-consulting.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">commissioned
US strategy consulting firm Monitor-Deloitte</span></a> to identify private
business opportunities in EGS production. The study was conducted in Ethiopia,
Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia on maize, rice, sorghum, cowpea, common
beans, cassava and sweet potato.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">BMGF and USAID have handpicked an elite group to
meet behind closed doors in London in March 2015 to discuss the consultant's
report and to strategise on how to open up another front in the battle to turn
African seed into a profit-making venture for MNCs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">What is remarkable about this meeting is that
there are very few Africans present. Those who are there mostly represent
private sector interests, including seed companies and traders' associations.
There are no farmer representatives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">This raises serious concerns about the
transparency and accountability of these processes. The image of colonial
robber barons meeting in secret to carve up the African continent arises
unbidden in the mind.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">Private sector cherry picking with public subsidy</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">The Deloitte report exposes a typical approach of
private sector 'cherry picking', where private companies identify profitable
activities for their own involvement.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">While
complaining incessantly about</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> <i>"heavy state involvement"</i> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">they still insist on selected
heavy state involvement to cover unprofitable interventions so that the private
sector can take the profitable activities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">These include establishing systems, developing
institutions, and even engaging in some productive activities where profits are
unlikely but which are needed to allow the profit-making scheme to function.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">The report uses cowpea production in Ghana as an
example of where the public sector should carry the extremely expensive breeder
seed costs to allow the private sector to profit in seed multiplication and
distribution.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">Breeder seed is prohibitively costly because of
low multiplication rates and low demand. But the demand that exists is
nonetheless lucrative, so the private sector wants to be involved in those
parts of the production process identified as profitable.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">Where the whole chain is profitable, Deloitte
proposes the public sector be locked out of the production process. Examples
are hybrid maize or closed value chains where there is strong but limited
demand and early production processes are also potentially profitable, for
example hybrid sorghum for brewing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">Deloitte's
proposal to</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> <i>"channel government and donor financing into
supporting mechanisms for private investment in seed production"</i> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">is a route to effectively
subsidising MNCs at the expense of building farmer capacity and resilience to
produce quality seed to meet their own context-specific needs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">Active role for farmers disregarded</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">A potential role for farmers in production or
distribution of seed is not even considered in the study, from conception to
results. Indeed farmers are viewed only as passive consumers of seed produced
by others for a profit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">While we can acknowledge that farmer-managed
systems are not perfect, these systems have survived through extremely adverse
conditions. They undoubtedly form a base for seed production and distribution
that can be built on. But they require support, especially from public R&D
and extension services.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">There
is a</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="http://afsafrica.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">growing
movement in Africa</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">to</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2605389/ghanas_farmers_battle_monsanto_law_to_retain_seed_freedom.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">reassert
the enduring importance of farmer-managed seed systems.</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">. Even under ideal
circumstances, MNCs will not venture into the production of many small crops
where demand is fragmented nationally but is very strong in local pockets.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">The MNC business model of economies of scale and
standardised products cannot respond to the diverse needs of asset-poor but
dynamic African farmers.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">Rather than engaging in partnerships with MNCs
with dubious long-term benefits for farmers, it will be far better for the
public sector to orient the capacity and resources at its disposal to work
directly with farmers to build on existing seed production and distribution
activities.</span></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">
<hr size="2" width="100%" align="center">
</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">Stephen Greenberg</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> is a researcher at the African Centre for
Biosafety, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is currently coordinating a
three year research project in southern Africa to investigate the impact of
Green Revolution technologies on the livelihoods of small-scale farming
households.</span></i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><br></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">Oliver Tickell</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"> edits The Ecologist.</span></i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black"><br></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">More information</span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:black">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial">'<a href="http://www.acbio.org.za/index.php/media/64-media-releases/475-white-men-meet-in-london-to-plot-ways-of-profiting-off-africas-seed-systems" target="_blank"><i><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">White
men meet in London to plot ways of profiting off Africa's seed systems</span></i></a>',
African Centre for Biosafety media advisory.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:black">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="http://www.acbio.org.za/" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">African Centre for Biosafety</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:15pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:black">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">
</span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-repeat:initial"><a href="http://afsafrica.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(56,73,54)">Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p></div><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div><font size="1"><b><span style="color:rgb(116,27,71)"><i><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;display:inline"></div></i></span></b></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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