Plant Genetics Treaty Protects Farmers Rights
A groundbreaking new international treaty that validates farmer's rights to save seeds went into effect on June 29. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture establishes a multilateral system providing public access to seeds and germplasm for much of the world's food supply, as well as fair and equitable sharing of the benefits. IATP is calling on the Bush Administration to bring the treaty before Congress for ratification.

"Protection of the world's food supply depends on the broadest possible distribution of seeds," said Kristin Dawkins, Vice President of International Programs at IATP. "Genetic diversity is the key to healthy crops, and this global program to include farmers in the effort to ensure widespread cross-fertilization through the exchange of seed is vital. It is time for the U.S. to join the rest of the world in protecting farmers rights to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seed."

The issue of saving seeds and keeping them in the public domain has become increasingly important with the introduction of genetically engineered seeds. In the U.S., biotech companies like Monsanto have filed hundreds of legal cases against farmers alleging that they saved the company's patented genetically engineered seeds from one growing season to the next. The biotech industry maintains that their seeds are intellectual property that must be used in the year purchased.

Read more about the treaty at iatp.org/global

Take Action for Country of Origin Labeling
The 2002 Farm Bill required all fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry and fish to be labeled by their country of origin. Mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) respects the basic right of consumers to know where their food comes from and is common in many countries around the world. It is essential for food safety recalls like the recent discovery of mad cow disease in a Canadian herd. And COOL would help support U.S. farmers and ranchers in the marketplace. COOL is supported by over 170 U.S. farm and consumer groups representing over 50 million Americans. Polls have consistently shown that over 80 percent of Americans support COOL and would be willing to pay a few cents more for the labeling. It seemed like a win for everyone.

But soon after the 2002 Farm Bill passed, giant meat packers and big food companies started working to gut COOL. They succeeded in de-funding the program and delaying implementation until Sept. 2006. Just this month, a few members of the House introduced a bill supported by big meat packers that would allow voluntary COOL to permanently replace mandatory COOL. There is, however, voluntary COOL already and large meat packers and food companies have refused to provide such labeling for years. Mandatory COOL is needed, as approved by Congress in 2002. Fortunately, legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate to restore the application date for COOL to Sept. 30 of this year.

Help support consumer rights and U.S. farmers! Contact your members of Congress and ask that they support mandatory COOL! Send a letter to your member of Congress (via the Leauge of Rural Voters) about the importance of mandatory COOL.

UNCTAD Takes Positive Step Forward With Commodities Task Force
The eleventh United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) meeting in São Paulo in June continued a string of international meetings where developing countries have stood together to demand fair trade policies from developed nations. A new initiative to address low agricultural commodity prices was a significant step forward at the UNCTAD meeting.

In response to the global farm crisis, UNCTAD took a significant step by announcing a special task force on commodities to come up with solutions to low prices. Specifics of the task force have yet to be worked out, but civil society farm groups are emphasizing the critical need to address agricultural export dumping at below-cost-of-production prices, and the need for government intervention to address market failures that are driving commodity prices down.

"It is a very positive signal that UNCTAD XI recognizes the need to focus its work on commodities and in particular on the instability of world commodity prices and the failure of those prices to cover basic costs for farmers," said Alexandra Strickner, Director of IATP's Trade Information Project in Geneva.

Several IATP staff members attended UNCTAD and participated in the civil society forum. IATP briefed delegates, the press and civil society on such issues as agricultural dumping, the emerging fair trade system and strategies for global institutions to better promote development. IATP also co-hosted a June 17 fair trade reception with UNCTAD Secretary-General Rubens Ricupero, Brazil Minister of Agrarian Development Miguel Rossetto, local São Paulo officials, NGO leaders and other special guests.

Full coverage of the UNCTAD XI meeting

New IATP White Paper Challenges the Commodity Crisis
Over the last decade, agricultural commodity prices have plunged to record low levels around the world, often well below the cost of production. A new IATP white paper, UNCTAD XI: Challenging the Commodity Crisis by Sophia Murphy, outlines possible strategies for stabilizing prices to levels where farmers can make a living.

The white paper outlines how UNCTAD has traditionally played a major role in combating one of the major causes of the agriculture price decline: over-production. In the past, UNCTAD has been the home to international commodity agreements that helped ensure fair prices for farmers including agreements for coffee, cocoa, rubber, sugar and tin.

The paper calls UNCTAD to focus on: (1) Monitoring the market presence of transnational corporations in commodity markets; (2) Studying the impacts of dismantling state trading enterprises to determine how best to replace the vital services the organizations have provided; and (3) Improving the methodology used to calculate margins of dumping for agricultural commodities.

Read the full report at IATP's UNCTAD XI site

Unified Efforts for U.S. Global Cooperation
There is growing concern among United States business, academic, military and civic leaders that the country is losing its stature as a world leader on many fronts. Concern is growing over a series of recent Bush administration policies that have turned the U.S. away from positive global engagement and toward a "going it alone" strategy.

Since the start of the Bush administration, the U.S. has opted out of at least six major international agreements covering areas such as the protection of women, the environment, disarmament and international crime. Even treaties for which the U.S. continues to be a part of—such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Geneva Convention and the Convention on Torture—are dismissed with cavalier rationales. A recent memo by White House Counsel Alberto Gonzalez actually argued that parts of the Geneva Convention are "obsolete."

To address these growing concerns, IATP is spearheading a new project called Global Cooperation. We have begun to network together business and community leaders to promote multilateral agreements. We are raising awareness by assembling the major international treaties and the level of U.S. participation in each of them. A Web site and coalition of supporters will have an official launch in September. Our goal is to have the U.S. engage cooperatively with the international community and put into practice the values of the American people.

Detailed information on the project can be found at IATP's Global Governance site

Could 20 World Leaders Break the Deadlock on Trade Negotiations?
In June, Oxford University's Global Economic Governance Programme hosted a two-day meeting for some 40 participants from around the world to discuss the feasibility of a breakthrough on agricultural talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The meeting asked participants to discuss whether a meeting of 20 heads of state could take the initiative to break the current stalemate in multilateral trade negotiations.

IATP's Sophia Murphy was asked to prepare a background paper for the meeting that discussed what issues were at the center of the global agriculture talks and how they might be approached at a leaders' summit. Other papers looked at institutional reform and tariff and subsidy reductions.

The papers are all available at the Centre for International Governance Innovation Web site

Top Minnesota Chefs Join Event on Sustainable Seafood
On June 7, IATP's Fish and Marine Conservation Program—in partnership with the Chef's Collaborative and Seafood Choices Alliance—held a seafood tasting event and panel discussion at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.

The sold-out event featured sustainably harvested and locally produced delicacies, including rainbow trout, hybrid striped bass and yellow perch from Wisconsin; Alaskan troll caught halibut; Washington marbled king salmon; oysters and manila clams. The event was attended by 120 guests. The crème de la crème of Twin Cities seafood chefs donated their time and culinary expertise to prepare a diverse host of delicious appetizers and entrees ranging from Mesquite Smoked Copper River Sockeye with Minnesota Horseradish Greens and Ramp to Smoked Trout Pie with Dill Crème Fraîche.

Following the dinner, guests converged on an adjacent lecture hall to listen to a lively discussion on sustainable seafood, hosted by Mike Boots, Director of the Seafood Choices Alliance; Jeremy Brown of the Washington Troller's Association; Herby Radmann, Bullfrog Fish Farm; and Tim Lauer of Coastal Seafood. The panel then fielded a range of questions from the audience, making for an extraordinary event that was enjoyed by all.

For more about sustainable seafood, visit IATP's Fish and Marine Conservation site

IATP Sponsoring Rural Lands Opportunities Show
IATP has partnered with a number of other Minnesota organizations to sponsor and organize a Rural Lands Opportunities Show in Le Center, Minn., on July 22. The event will provide farmers, landowners, entrepreneurs and others an opportunity to view and hear about successful land-based enterprises.

The day will feature several 20 minute sessions where people will describe various business opportunities, including agri-tourism, sustainable forestry, wind energy and alternative crops. There will be two full session talks, one by Jim Maetzold of the U.S. Department of Agriculture on entrepreneurial opportunities. The other, by Steve Morse of the Green Lands, Blue Waters Initiative, will cover agricultural diversification. The event will also include a farmers' market, music and locally grown meals.

"We have found incredible interest in these types of alternative enterprises," said Mark Muller, Environment and Agriculture Program Director and member of the event's planning committee. "Events like this give potential entrepreneurs faith that their community can do much more than just grow corn and soybeans."

For more information about the show, visit the Friends of the Minnesota Valley Web site

IATP's Kathleen Schuler Honored With Environmental Award
In June, IATP Senior Scientist Kathleen Schuler was honored by the Minnesota Public Health Association with the organization's 2004 Harvey G. Rogers Environmental Award. The award honors individuals who through the years of dedication, distinguished service and technical contribution have promoted public health through preservation of the environment.

MPHA cited Kathleen's work to reduce mercury and flame retardants in food, both of which represent significant threats to children's health. Kathleen designed IATP's safe fish consumption calculator and will be working with the Minnesota legislature this year on a bill to ban certain flame retardants. "Kathleen's contributions have significantly impacted the health of the environment and the people of Minnesota," the MPHA wrote.

Fair Trade Soccer Balls Available
IATP's for-profit company, Peace Coffee (peacecoffee.com), has been a leader in helping bring to U.S. consumers great coffee that guarantees workers have been paid a fair price and the environment has been protected in the production. Now, IATP is offering top-of-the-line soccer balls made without child labor and under safe and secure working conditions.

The soccer balls are made by Talon Sports in Sialkot, Pakistan, considered a center of soccer ball production. Talon was one of the first sports ball makers certified by the Fairtrade Labeling Organization (FLO). By following fair trade standards, workers have seen increased wages, health coverage and funds for education.

More information on FLO check out
More on Talon

Each ball is $25 plus shipping and taxes. If you order five or more, they are $20 each. These are a great gift for your favorite soccer enthusiast. To order your fair trade soccer ball today, email Mark Ritchie.

Donate to IATP! You can help. IATP does very important work to keep family farmers on the land, to ensure the safety of our food supply and to preserve biodiversity and the environment for future generations. We cannot do this work without you. Your tax-deductible contribution will help us secure a sustainable world. Please make your tax-deductible contribution today. If you would like more information about our programs, or if you would like to discuss different contribution options, please contact Kate Hoff, Development Director, at khoff@iatp.org or (612) 870-3404. We appreciate your interest in our work. Thank you for your support.

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IATP News is an occasional publication reporting on recent events and activities at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP). It is sent to board members, supporters, partners and friends. If you want to learn more about any particular item or if you do not want to receive this newsletter, send email to Communications Coordinator Ben Lilliston at blilliston@iatp.org or call: 612-870-3416. Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
Mark Ritchie, President
2105 First Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404 USA
Tel. 1 (612) 870-0453 Fax. 1 (612) 870-4846
Email: iatp@iatp.org Web: iatp.org