for the land that feeds us

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) documents global struggles and achievements in building food sovereignty and protecting biodiversity. Through case studies from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe, it highlights the conflict between industrial agricultural models—characterized by monocultures, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and land grabbing—and community-led agroecological practices. The document emphasizes the critical role of indigenous and peasant communities, particularly women, in conserving native seeds and managing forests to ensure sustainable local food systems.

• In Nigeria, the acquisition of over 3,500 hectares of the Iguobazuwa forest reserve by the French company Michelin for a rubber plantation led to increased poverty, malnutrition, and forced migration. FOE Nigeria campaigned against this conversion, resulting in the company receiving a 'prize' in the 2009 Pinocchio awards for human rights abuses and an increase in compensation payments to the Obozogbe community.
• In Uganda, the establishment of a multi-million dollar oil palm plantation by BIDCO on Bugala island caused extensive deforestation and water depletion. The project, supported by loans from the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), resulted in land grabbing and the destruction of cultural forests and sacred sites, displacing communities from their traditional grazing and cultivation areas.
• Indonesia has experienced massive tropical forest loss, with 72% of natural forests gone by the start of the century. FOE Indonesia (WALHI) criticizes the government's conservation approach, which treats natural goods as static resources and has led to the forced expulsion of indigenous tribes, such as the Dongi-Dongi and Moronene, from national parks.
• In Argentina's Misiones Province, industrial monocultures of tobacco and pine have caused relentless deforestation and soil degradation. In response, some families have established agroecological enterprises, focusing on food crops like cassava and sweet potatoes and selling surplus at local fairs to resist the industrial agricultural model.
• In Colombia's García Rovira Province, the Agrovida association was formed in 1998 to protect the El Almorzadero páramo ecosystem from coal mining and to create alternative markets for agroecological products. Agrovida has revitalized over 100 varieties of potato, 40 varieties of broad bean, and 30 varieties of kidney bean through in situ seed banks.
• In Costa Rica, the Sonafluca settlement serves as a successful model of community forest management, protecting the 146-hectare Dendrobates Biological Reserve. The community utilizes agroforestry systems on small parcels (4-5 hectares) to produce food for family consumption and the national market, though they face uncertainty regarding state ownership of the land.
• In El Salvador, the group Los Cuzcatlecos works to conserve 'criolla' (traditional) seeds in biodiversity sanctuaries to resist the introduction of transgenics and the influence of agribusinesses like Monsanto. This is critical as 88.7% of the country's territory is vulnerable to natural disasters, contributing to a severe food crisis.
• Agriculture in the United States is highly concentrated, with the top four seed companies controlling 43% of the seed market. Monoculture farming of corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton has led to a loss of biodiversity, while Monsanto controls 60% of corn and 62.5% of soybean seeds and traits licensed in the US.
• FOE Switzerland launched a 'people's initiative' to combat urban sprawl and the loss of arable land, which has resulted in a food self-sufficiency rate of just over 50%. The initiative demands a sustainable use of land, a ban on construction in certain areas, and the preservation of agricultural land exclusively for food production.

APA

Dey, A. (2011). for the land that feeds us. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/for-the-land-that-feed-us.pdf

Chicago

Dey, Abhijith. for the land that feeds us. Friends of the Earth International, 2011. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/for-the-land-that-feed-us.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dey |first1=Abhijith |title=for the land that feeds us |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=July 2011 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/for-the-land-that-feed-us.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dey2011land, author = {Dey, Abhijith}, title = {{for the land that feeds us}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2011}, month = jul, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/for-the-land-that-feed-us.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }