[Pirateninfo] FW: Syngenta caught in the act
Silke Pohl
sipohl at yahoo.com
Mon Dez 16 05:25:49 CET 2002
"PAN AP" <panap@panap.net> schrieb am 05.12.02 07:50:12:PAN - Asia and the PacificP.O. Box 1170,10850 Penang, MalaysiaTel:604-6570271/6560381 Fax:604-6577445Web: www.poptel.org.uk/panap www.panap.net----- Original Message -----From: "Policy and Information Unit" <policy@searice.org.ph>To: <pvpwatch2002@yahoogroups.com>; "'No-GMO Yahoo Group'"<no-gmophils@yahoogroups.com>Cc: "Anti Biopiracy Group" <antibiopiracy@yahoogroups.com>Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 1:54 PMSubject: [no-gmophils] FW: Syngenta caught in the act-----Original Message-----From: AgBioIndia@agbioindia.org [mailto:AgBioIndia@agbioindia.org]Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 1:16 PMTo: policy@searice.org.phSubject: Syngenta caught in the act=======================AgBioIndia Mailing List=======================02 December 2002Subject: Syngenta caught in the actThe Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), the umbrellaorganisation for public sector agricultural research in the country, hastaken seri
ous note of the reported collaborative research projectbetween the seed giant Syngenta Corporation and the Indira Gandhi KrishiVishwavidalaya (IGKV) at Raipur, in Chhatisgarh, in central India, whichwould have entailed transfer of rice germplasm to the private company.The rice germplasm in question, comprises the 19,095 strains of localrice cultivars, painstakingly collected by the legendary agriculturalscientist, the late Dr R.H.Richharia. The collections were earlier thesubject of a hot debate in the country when it was reported that thegermplasm had been transferred to the International Rice ResearchInstitute (IRRI) in the early 1980s. It was later found that thegermplasm collections had in fact been transferred and have further beenpassed on to the USDA collections at Fort Collins. The USDA collectionsare outside the purview of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),which had for the first time treated plant germplasm as a nationalsovereign property.The ICAR has so
ught a detailed clarification from the agriculturaluniversity and at the same time made it categorical clear that such atransfer of genetic resources 'cannot be allowed' at any cost. This goesagainst various provisions for the protection of plant genetic resourcesunder the national laws. However, the ICAR is unwilling to launchcriminal proceedings against the university vice-chancellor forpermitting biopiracy under a legalised frame-work.Syngenta had earlier gone around agricultural unuiversities in thecountry collecting hybrid varieties for marketing. This was also aclever way of collecting genetic resources in the name of marketing thevarieties (at a nominal royalty payment of 5 per cent on the returns),which was finally stalled by ICAR. Knowing that Syngenta Corporationcontinues to look for avenues and opportunities for (mis)appropriatingvaluable genetic resources, isn't the ICAR and the Ministry ofEnvironment and Forests competent to blacklist the company from anyfurther
research collaborations? And if not, why not? Isn't it the rightcase to launch legal proceedings against both the university and theprivate company? Why can't the government take the company to task andthereby demonstrate its willingness to act against biopirates? What isthe use of framing laws and regulations when there is no will to act?Contents:1. Seeds: Source of life or profit making by Suresh Kumar Sahu2. Syngenta-IGKV collaboration -- Civil society rejectsvice-chancellor's clarifications3. Media update on Syngenta-IGKV collaboration--------------------1. Seeds: Source of life or profit makingBy Suresh Kumar SahuThe issue of Bio-diversity, rights over seed resources have once againemerged as a challenge in front of us. In reality, farmers should havethe rights over germ plasm. The question arises that what should be theprocess to exercise this right, what should be the civil and politicalvalues attached with the use of resources, what should be thearrangement for savi
ng these resources from thrift or loot, in thisprocess what will be the role of farmer, consumer, scientist community,government and widespread country loving citizens? These are such issueswhere conclusions cannot be drawn in a day but certainly require debateon ground level. In this debate peoples' organisations and groups willhave to play an important role.Since ages farmers especially women and tribals have protected anddeveloped seeds. In tandem with nature, farmers with their knowledgebase and life style have always protected the germ plasm. Hence theydeserve fundamental right of use and protection of the varieties of germplasm.Third world countries possess most germ plasm. Here there is a need toview the rights over germ plasm at three levels. First, the seedsavailable with farmers at his farmland, second, the seeds stored ingovernment gene banks and third, the seeds at international and privateorganisations. However only farmers have rights over all this inreality. F
armers can secure the use and protection of the varieties ofgerm plasm present in their farms either themselves or in groups. Thereis also a need to be aware about achieving the rights of farmers overthe collected seeds in government and international organisations.In all over world Indira Gandhi University ranks second in itscollection of rice germ plasms. Chhattisgarh is one of the centre oforigin of the indica variety of rice is grown. The varieties of ricefound in chhattisgarh are one of its kinds. There are varieties presentin Chhattisgarh where the time range of harvesting the rice ranges from60 days to 150 days; the largest size of rice variety- dokra-dokri riceis also present here. Naargoidi ricewhich can grow in around 10 feet of water is also of Chhattisgarh. Thereare both coarse and flavoured fine rice varieties existing here. Some ofthe varieties of rice contain high protein as well as medicinalimportance. The varieties are found according to the widespread lands
ituation and topography of Chhattisgarh. These varieties are neither aproduct of test tubes in a lab nor are they dropped from the sky. Infact, Chhattisgarh'sfarmers have developed them through years of hard work spread in severalgenerations.With time there was a felt need of more production per unit area thenthe farmers of Chhattisgarh in their own farm lands tried to choose andpromote more productive and disease resistant seeds. World famous ricescientist Dr. R. H. Richharia recognised the potential of varieties ofrice plasms present and farmers rich knowledge and skill of farming inChhattisgarh. Dr. Richharia, with the combination of the two, began anorganised effort on sustainable rice farming in Chhattisgarh. MadhyaPradesh rice research centre's main focus was Chhattisgarh's farmers forwhich the then agricultural department officials and their colleaguesworked day and night. It's important to note Dr. Richharia's strategyand techniques vis-à-vis this work. The work don
e by Dr. Richhariaduring this period is known as 'adaptive rice research'. In the firstphase of this work all the varieties of rice with relevant informationabout them were collected from every corner of Chhattisgarh. From thethen undivided Madhya Pradesh around 19095 varieties of rice werecollected from all the districts.These varieties were then grown in Baronda agriculture farm near Raipurand then their qualities were documented. In this way study anddocumentation of all the varieties of rice was the first stage of thework. Here its important to note that the main aim of preserving thevarieties under 'adaptive rice research' was the development of suchvarieties which could be again available to farmers and used by farmersin their particular situations if they found them conducive. That meanshere the implicit contract between farmers and Madhya Pradesh riceresearch centre was the use of these seeds and developing new seeds,which were conducive to the local situations, and
giving them back tothe farmers. It was not at all for earning profit by allowing their useby any company or organisation. Madhya Pradesh Rice Research Institute(MPRRI) were using these seeds according to the consent by the farmers.These collected and documented varieties were being tested in lowexternal input conditions which majority of the farmersof Chhattisgarh practice and can afford. In these circumstances, betterperforming seeds were chosen on the basis of 'pure line selection'.Through this the respective seeds were given the name of BD selection.Thus in this way Dr. Richharia tried to develop 1500 BD selections andhis next step was to make it available to farmers of Chhattisgarh wherethey could grow seeds conducive to them. In Dr. Richharia's strategythis was proposed that the model of Adaptive Rice Centre be implementedin a decentralised manner which can take forward the work ofconservation and development of rice varieties. For this he gave asuggestion to spread the
network of ' adaptive research centres' inentire Chhattisgarh. According to Dr. Richharia if one has to tell themost important quality of rice plant, providing food to crores ofpeople, then it's the varieties evident in its thousands of varieties.According to him 'adaptive rice centre' will be the reserve of all thecollected local varieties of rice. They would be kept alive in theirnatural environment for securing the future.The proposed MOU between Indira Gandhi Agriculture University and multinational company Syngenta is beyond rational thinking. Syngenta is amulti national company whose business is spread over 50 countries. Themergence of seed and agriculture chemical departments of two companiesNovartis and Astra-Zeneca in December 1999 formed Syngenta. It is theworld's largest agriculture trade company. Its business is inagriculture, chemicals and seeds. Among seeds their production'simportant component is 'genetically modified seeds'.Since last 25 years Indira Gandhi
Agriculture University is situated atRaipur. And from that time itself it has 19000 varieties of germ plasmavailable for research. Many rice scientists are working from so manyyears. After all now what's the research which these scientists areincapable to do themselves? Has the university administration starteddoubting the potentials of their scientists? After all what is thetechnique used by Syngenta which the scientists of this university don'tknow? If we view the qualities of Syngenta we realise that under thepretext of solving the problems it creates bigger problems. Syngentacurrently markets crops that are either herbicide tolerant or insectresistant genetically modified (GM) crops. We all are aware that in ourfarms along with the main crops there are also other biogenetic specieswhich we also use for food. Syngenta's technique will destroy all thesespecies.Besides this these GM crops would have an adverse effect on wholeeco-system. For example, gene transfer to related
wild species mighttake place, creating herbicide tolerant 'super weeds'. Wherever thesecrops are used signs of its adverse effects are visible, therefore theiropposition has begun. In the same way for protection against insectsSyngenta's technique is such that insects will become resistant to theinbuiltinsecticide and cause crop failures. That means any insect (useful orharmful for farming) will die after coming in contact with these crops.Gene transfer to related wild species might take place, creating insectresistant 'super weeds'.The GM crop, leading to genetic contamination with the foreign genes,may pollinate neighbouring organic or non-GM crops. Genetic UseRestriction Technique(GURT) is promoted to make the farmer dependent onthese companies for seeds every year. In our understanding after theadverse effects of atom bomb, terminator technique (infertile seedtechnique) is the biggest example of anti humanitarian technique andSyngenta is leading for promoting this. Desp
ite their widespread illeffects on environment, farming and health Syngenta continues to developand market GM crops and has remained in controversy. It's important toponder whether there is an hidden agenda to experiment this inChhattisgarh's farmers.There is a trend of increasing investment in production and decreasingproduction in today's agricultural arena catalysed by green revolution.Now the most critical thing is to decrease the cost of production andincrease production keeping in view the environment balance. In thesecircumstances, Chhattisgarh's farmers' seeds, knowledge and technique ismore useful in increasing the production rate of rice and researchingthe drought resistant varieties which Dr. Richharia had done at one timeeven in formal 'scientific frame'.--------------------------2. Syngenta-IGKV CollaborationCivil Society Organisations reject Vice-chancellor's clarificationsDr.VK Patil, Vice-chancellor of the Indira Gandhi KrishiVishvavidayalaya (IGKV) clarifie
d the position of IGKV vis-à-vis theSyngenta deal in a press conference on November 27th. The pressconference came soon after he was summoned by the Honorable Governor ofChhattisgarh and asked to explain the details of the collaborationfollowing a huge media outcry and protests by Civil SocietyOrganisations across the state.In a written statement the VC of IGKV was forced admit that the firstround of "informal preliminary" talks with Syngenta was held on July31st, 2002 where a team of scientists including the Director - ResearchDr.Tripathy met the Syngenta representative Dr.Abraham to pursue aproposal on collaborative research between Syngenta and IGKV.Dr.Patil subsequently met Syngenta representatives in Aurangabad. Hecould offer no explanation as to why a meeting with the Syngentarepresentatives was not held in Raipur. He did insist however that themeeting was a preliminary one where he had clarified to Syngentaofficials that any agreement will have to be vetted through
thecompetent authorities including the ICAR, University Board and stateGovernment officials. According to the VC it was at this meeting thatSyngenta made clear the terms of the research offer under which theywould provide funding to the University and jointly develop hybrid,drought-resistant rice varieties using the germplasm currently inpossession of IGKV. The new varieties would be marketed by Syngenta andproportionate royalty given to IGKV.Subsequently on October 23rd, 2002, a meeting was organised at IGKVwhere senior University officials met Syngenta representatives - Dr.G JPal, Dr.M J Abraham and Dr. Bhargava. Syngenta officials had come todiscuss the 15 point draft MoU which they had submitted to theUniversity. Dr.Patil claimed that the conditions of the MoU includingthe proposals for joint research were unacceptable to the Universitywhich in turn therefore had prepared a 12 point MoU after consultationswith 12 senior scientists and other officials of the Universit
y. Theproposals included setting up a joint board for managing the programmewith 3 representatives each of Syngenta and the University. The Boardwould be presided by a University official and would be co-ordinated bya Syngenta representative. The proposal to use the germplasm inpossession of IGKV was agreed upon.Despite persistent questioning by the media the VC refused to share thecopies of the MoU drafted by Syngenta. Going on the offensive he claimedthat in a globalised era such collaborations were increasingly becomingnecessary and if any other company offered greater financial supportthan Syngenta, the University was willing to negotiate with them and goin for collaborative research on the germplasm with IGKV.The VC also clarified that since they had not heard from Syngenta afterthedraft MoU (as proposed by IGKV), they had not gone in for furthernegotiations. Dr. Patil insisted that at no stage was the Universityconsidering compromising the IPR of the parental lines.
Interestingly, the VC went back on the earlier note released by IGKVwhich seemed to suggest that the discussions were at an advanced stage,on the grounds that it was based on incomplete information since boththe Director - Research and he were out of station at the time that thecontroversy erupted.Dr.Patil refused to categorically deny the allegations about thetransfer of rice varieties to IRRI but instead chose to say that he wasunaware of the details of an enquiry of the nature that was suggested bythe media.-------------------3. Media Update on Syngenta-IGKV collaborationDainik Bhaskar, Nov 9, 2002:Title: "IGKV to grant the rights of rare varieties of rice to multinational company"· Meeting held in Germ Plasm centre, University on 23rd October 2002.Attended by Head of Department, 3 scientists, 4 administrative officersand 7 others.· Opposition to company's terms and conditions by few of the agriculturescientists because the company would use this in its favour.· Company
is bent upon taking the rights of research on the use ofvarieties of rice.· VC, Dr. Patila told the representatives of the company to talk to himafter his 'Germany tour'.· Preparation going on to secretly hand over the rights of research on23,000 rare varieties of rice plasm to multi national company by theUniversity.· Director of Hyderabad Rice Research Centre, Dr. B.Mishra opposes thismove.· A fixed amount of money earned by selling the new hybrid variety ofrice in market would be given to the university as royalty. VC agreed onthis bargain.Navbharat, Nov 12, 2002:Title: " Multi national company to prepare the hybrid varieties of ricein Chhattisgarh"· University to do the research jointly with Syngenta.· Company to pay the royalty by selling the developed varieties in theforeign market. Decision to be taken on this proposal after state'sapproval.· Germ plasm to be used only by them and will not allow it to gooutside.· Both Logo of Syngenta and the University to be used on
the packetsused for selling the varieties of rice.Deshbandhu, Nov 15, 2002:Title: "Agriculture University to hand over the rare varieties of riceunknown to farmers to multi national company"· This decision is opposed by a number of NGO's and Civil SocietyOrganisations.· With the assistance of the farmers Dr. Richharia developed 17000national varieties of germ plasms in Chhattisgarh. He was director ofRice Research Centre, Madhya Pradesh (posted in Chhattisgarh). In 1977document he has stated that better and more cost effective nationalvarieties than international ones are available in the market.· He was ousted from his post because of opposing the foreign varieties.Deshbandhu and Navbharat, Nov 16, 2002Title: "Opposition of granting the rights of rare varieties of rice tomultinational company Syngenta"Attack on Chhattisgarh's identity- CPI (M)· Sanjay Parate demands the state to intervene in this matter.· Also stated that under this veil Chhattisgarh's farmers would becompe
lled to buy the hybrid seeds.Deshbandhu, Nov 18, 2002:Title:"CM to have secret agreement with Syngenta- Brij Mohan Agrawal(BJPLeader) "· Like other industry CM is spoiling Chhattisgarh's agriculture.· Blaims the CM of attack on Chhattisgarh's identity by this move.· Blaims the CM that the crop rotation change campaign was totally basedon directions of multi national companies.Deshbandhu, Nov 20, 2002:Title: " After commitments to Syngenta, Agriculture University has notkept the agreement."· Dr. S.N Srivastava of Agriculture University denies of any agreement.Also denies of any meeting held in Aurangabad.· Syngenta proposed to work jointly on development of hybrid seedsvariety, drought resistant varieties and marketing strategy. Alsoproposed to give grants to the university for research in which theUniversity and Syngenta would use the available germ plasm for marketingby Syngenta while the university would have the royalty for 7 years.· Mr. Tripathy said, "University's offic
ials denied to accept some ofthe terms and conditions of Syngenta Company and proposed new conditionsfrom the university's side". Also said that on this subject any decisioncan be taken only after agreement by University's scientists/officials,University' s academic group, administrative group, Indian agriculturalresearch community and state government.· University is waiting for company's answer.· Made clear that parental license to be with the university.Deshbandhu, Nov 26, 2002:Title: "Efforts to justify after the illegal agreement with Syngenta"· On 20th august 2002, VC met the officials of the Syngenta Company oninvitation, in Aurangabad.· The present proposed agreement between Syngenta and University isviolation of Ritho agreement held 10 years back. This agreement tookplace on 29 December 1993 in which 156 countries had signed and Indiawas one of them. According to this agreement germ plasm should beprotected at local level and before taking it anywhere the consent of
local communities should be obtained.· Some of the varieties of rice have already reached foreign countries.· One of the scientist associated with agriculture university is of theopinion that if there is an agreement with any multi national companythen the permission to use the seeds cannot be granted withoutintimating National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR).[We are thankful to Chhattisgarh Biodiversity Security Forum, whichprovided us these updates. The Forum includes People's Union for CivilLiberties (Chhattisgarh Lok Swantantra Sangthan), Ekta Parishad,Rupantar, ActionAid, World Social Forum - Chhattisgarh Chapter,Chhattisgarh Kisani Samvardhan Kendra and other organisations]____________________________________________The AgBioIndia mailing list is an effort by the Forum for Biotechnology& Food Security to bridge the yawning gap in our understanding of thepolitics of food. We believe this mailing list will create widerawareness and understanding of the compexi
ties of the crisis facingIndian agriculture and food security. This list will keep you posted onthe intricacies and games being enacted in the name of eradicatinghunger.It is a non-commercial educational service for non-profit organisationsand individuals. Subscribers are welcome to contribute information.You can view previous issues at http://www.agbioindia.org/archive.asp===========================================How to use this list===========================================You received this e-mail as a result of your registration on theAgBioIndia mailing list. If you received this in error, please reply tothis mail with *remove* in the subject line.If you want to subscribe to this mailing list, please send a blanke-mail to subscribe@agbioindia.orgFor any query about the list, please send an e-mail torajgupta@agbioindia.orgOrVisit this link http://www.agbioindia.org to subscribe or unubscribeTo unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:no-gmophils-unsubscribe@yahoogro
ups.comYour use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/-- KARSTEN WOLFFGeographer and Tropical Agriculturalist33-16-02 FerringhiDelima CondominiumsPersiaran Sungai Emas11100 Batu FerringhiPulau PinangMalaysiafon: (+60) 4-881 3162 (+60) 12-5830 601 (mobile)fax: (+49) 1212 5 123 14 152 (German dialling code)mail: KarstenWolff@web.de______________________________________________________________________________WEB.DE FreeMail macht das Leben leichter - mit dem neuen Organizer furIhre Adress- und Terminverwaltung. http://freemail.web.de/features/?mc=021146_______________________________________________Piraten mailing listPiraten@listi.jpberlin.dehttp://listi.jpberlin.de/mailman/listinfo/piraten
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now-------------- nächster Teil --------------
Ein Dateianhang mit HTML-Daten wurde geschreddert...
URL: http://ilpostino.jpberlin.de/pipermail/info-mail/attachments/20021216/7be22321/attachment.htm