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Annual Report 2008 / 2009

... but the righteous shall flourish as a branch


The current international economic crisis has caused us to lose sight of the lives of people living in the world's poorer countries. This in turn has created even greater hardship for them. Examples of this year annual report show how deeply our lives and our economies impact the lives and livelihoods of people in other parts of the world.
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New Book

Genetic Engineering and Food Sovereignty


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Reader on studies and experiences of partners and EED seconded professionals overseas: Sustainable agriculture is the only option to feed the world.
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Who feeds the world?

Three stories from Tanzania, Indonesia and Brazil.



Farmers of three countries refuse to get into debts and instead remember their traditional knowledge, which has been handed down from generation to generation. Innovative and versatile, they secure sustainable harvests, develop their own markets and contribute to the conservation of the environment.


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This page in: DE

Genetic Engineering is not an Alternative to Sustainable Agriculture to Feed the World


In connection with the work of the EED in the global south, we have collected the experiences of partners and EED seconded professionals overseas and looked into the question of whether or not genetic engineering is necessary in agriculture and nutrition in order to fight rural poverty and hunger.
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The case studies of our practical development work in this Reader document some of the problems with rural development if it relies too much on genetic engineering.  The experiences also show that this genetic engineering has not only been pretty ineffective thus far, but actually puts other forms of agriculture, especially agro-ecological approaches, at risk.

Genetic engineering is no alternative to an agro-ecological approach, which is shaped by principles of diversity and improved with the involvement of local farmers.  The agro-ecological participatory approach not only promises better yields together with improved environmental conditions, its distribution effect is also more advantageous: it is of direct benefit to poor peasant farmers.

Most of the articles in this volume arise from a four-year joint work project coordinated by the EED, in which 18 partners from all continents and all departments in the EED were involved.  This programme formed a mutual exchange among all participants, a new relationship with our partners, but also as part of a new South-South Dialogue among our partners.  Its theme focused not only on the use of agro-ecological methods, but also on the influence that national legislation can exert on genetic engineering law.  It was also involved in joint lobbying at the international level on questions of biosafety and sustainable agriculture.  We look back on this complex, but ultimately rich learning process with gratitude.  Our special thanks go to our overseas partners, who proved to us that development policy is no longer a one-way street.  This process of mutual learning must continue!

The reader can be downloaded from the homepage. In special cases we can distribute the 122 page book to highly interested  people on request (please mail to: ).


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