Latest Resources
19 September 2017
Erosion of farmers’ seed and agricultural systems in Tanzania
There are no simple answers when it comes to predicting the future of African food systems. Across the continent, the push to commercialise African agriculture to feed the growing and urbanising population, increase incomes, and reduce poverty is well known. However, this ‘solution’ is also heavily criticised for its ineffective, inappropriate and misdirected approach for […]
25 August 2017
Seed capture in South Africa: A threat to seed freedom but the seed movement is fighting back
Simangele Siko, a member of the central committee at Izindaba Zokudla, in her thanks to ACB after the workshop said, “The farmers have got power, immense power, but you have just unearthed the power!” Who can claim to own a seed? In these kernels lie the genetic wisdom of millions of years, co-created within specific […]
4 August 2017
Local seed varieties are essential for sustainable food systems … but face challenges
Smallholder farmers in Mozambique want access to a diversity of quality seed, but not exclusively from the formal sector. Farmers highly value their own varieties and want to work on enhancing these, too. These strong messages came out of a dialogue held between smallholder farmers, government officials and research institutions in Chimoio, Manica Province in […]
31 July 2017
The Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project: Real or false solution to climate change?
By Lim Li Ching, Senior Researcher, Third World Network Climate change is an urgent challenge facing farmers in Africa. As our world warms, many farmers are already experiencing devastating consequences, including storms, drought, floods, heat waves and extreme weather events. The implications for food security are severe, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) […]
3 July 2017
Resistance is fertile! Farmers rise up against South Africa’s corporate seed laws
Calls to decolonise our seed system at Gauteng public hearings on the Plant Improvement and Plant Breeders’ Rights Bills. Are there alternative systems that put farmers at the centre, do not reduce genetic and agricultural diversity, and support agroecology, seed and food sovereignty and resilience? South African smallholder farmers, consumers, academics and civil society at […]
21 June 2017
Food Systems of the Future Public Talk
The ACB in partnership with Wits Inala Forum had the honour of hosting Pat Mooney, Donna Andrews, John Nzira and Stephen Greenberg at a public talk at Wits University on the 12th of May 2017, in the light of the three mega mergers taking place. The title of the talk was “Food Systems of the […]
18 May 2017
FISPs Factsheets: Transitioning out of FISPs
The final factsheet in this series looks at how FISPs should be phased out and replaced with new approaches with long term benefits. Chichewa | English | Nyanja | Portuguese | Sesotho | Setswana | Shona | Siswati | Swahili | Xhosa To read and download all the factsheets in this series, click here.
18 May 2017
FISPs Factsheets: FISPs promote small-scale farmer dependency
The sixth factsheet in this series looks at how the FISPs have resulted in high levels of farmer dependency across Southern Africa. Chichewa | English | Nyanja | Portuguese | Sesotho | Setswana | Shona | Siswati | Swahili | Xhosa For the final factsheet in this series, click here.
18 May 2017
FISPs Factsheets: FISPs and political patronage
The fifth factsheet in this series looks at how these Farm Input Subsidy Programmes are being used to gain political patronage. Chichewa | English | Nyanja | Portuguese | Sesotho | Setswana | Shona | Siswati | Swahili | Xhosa For the next factsheet in the series, click here.
18 May 2017
FISPs Factsheets: The misuse of public funds
Farm input subsidy programmes (FISPs) play a central role in financing and delivering Green Revolution technologies to small-scale farmers in Africa. ACB developed these easy to read factsheets that explain what farm input subsidy programs are and how they operate. The fourth factsheet in the series looks at on the downfalls of the programmes: the […]