Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

The report critiques the concept of 'sustainable intensification,' asserting that it serves as a cover for conventional intensive agriculture and the expansion of genetically modified (GM) crops. It highlights how funding from entities like the Gates Foundation and the UK government prioritizes biotechnology over agro-ecological methods. The document argues that GM crops have not delivered promised yield increases or affordable climate adaptation, and instead increase seed costs and chemical dependency. It contrasts this approach with agro-ecology and 'food sovereignty,' which emphasize small-scale farmers' knowledge and traditional practices as more sustainable and productive alternatives.

• The concept of 'sustainable intensification' is criticized for being overly broad, allowing the biotechnology, fertilizer, and pesticide industries to promote their products under a sustainable label because the definition suggests that "no techniques or technologies should be left out."
• Funding for agricultural research is heavily skewed toward biotechnology. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation spent 162 million dollars on biotechnology projects between 2005 and 2011, and the CGIAR's budget allocates about one third to developing improved varieties of maize, rice, and wheat, much of which uses GM technology.
• Evidence suggests that GM crops have not significantly improved yields or provided effective climate adaptation. For example, Monsanto's GM drought tolerant maize MON87460 only reduced yield losses by 6 per cent in 'moderate' dry conditions and performed no better than existing varieties in drier US regions.
• The adoption of GM seeds has led to increased costs for farmers. In the USA, maize seed prices more than doubled, soybean seeds almost tripled, and cotton seeds quadrupled since the introduction of GM crops.
• The use of herbicide-tolerant GM crops has created a 'transgenic treadmill' where weeds become resistant to glyphosate, forcing farmers to use multiple herbicides or more toxic chemicals like 2,4-D.
• Small-scale farmers are often more productive than commercial operations when total output is measured rather than single-crop yield. Agro-ecological practices, which build on farmers' own knowledge, have the potential to double small farmers' food production within 10 years.
• The 'sustainable intensification' model promotes the integration of small farmers into global commercial markets, which critics argue contributes to food insecurity. An example is the Southern Agricultural Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT), which aims to bring 350,000 hectares of land into "profitable production."

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2012). Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing? https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Wolf-in-Sheeps-Clothing-summary.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing? 2012. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Wolf-in-Sheeps-Clothing-summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing? |date=October 2012 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Wolf-in-Sheeps-Clothing-summary.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternational2012wolf, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2012}, month = oct, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Wolf-in-Sheeps-Clothing-summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }