Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration (ETC-Group)

ETC Group programme support is one of a handful of organisations that SwedBio took over from Sida 2003. ETC is a small non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to the conservation and sustainable advancement of cultural and ecological diversity and human rights. ETC changed its name from RAFI (Rural Advancement Foundation International) in October 2001. The full official name is Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration.

Erosion refers not only to genetic erosion and the erosion of species, ecosystems, and the atmosphere - but also to the loss of cultures, knowledge and Human Rights. We are losing both our diversity and our eco-specific understanding of it.

Technology refers to a Pandora's Box of techniques including biotechnology, nanotechnology, informatics and neurosciences. Without societal governance, these new tools - especially in their convergence - will become a technological tsunami that could swamp the poor.

Concentration describes the global convergence of major corporations and governments driven by the desire to manage and control markets and new technological waves.

ETC Group works primarily at the global and regional (continental or sub-continental) levels and does not generally undertake grassroots, community, or national work. ETC Group supports partnerships with community, national, or regional Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) but ETC does not make grants or funds available to other organisations, and it does not have any members.

Initially, the organisation was almost entirely concerned with Plant Genetic Resources (PGR). The campaign on PGR was central to the evolution of ETC. As time has gone by, this concern has evolved to include biotechnology, human genetic diversity, and most recently, nano-scale technologies. ETC-Group is now dedicated to working with partner CSOs, social movements and governments in the South to support the socially responsible development of technologies useful to Indigenous and farming communities and their organisations. ETC Group and its partners also address issues of global governance where ETC monitors and advises on the impact of corporate involvement on significant technologies. ETC-Group's core work and strength consists of providing research and strategic support to the South to assist their evaluation of the potential positive and negative impacts of new technologies on marginalized people and biodiversity. Historically and currently, ETC's work has been to identify issues that are over the horizon and to devise strategies that bring these issues to the attention of governments and the media as well as CSOs.

Publications: On ETC's website you can find numerous publications in a range of languages. Particularly relevant to the SwedBio support are the publications "Down on the Farm" and "Seed Industry Concentration 2005"

In 2004 SwedBio initiated an external review of ETC Group. The review was finalized in April 2005 and concluded that "ETC Group enjoys an extraordinary reputation among South Civil Society Organisations as a highly- effective and cost-effective source of research and analysis on the socio economic impact of new technologies impacting developing countries", and, as a result the review panel, "has no hesitation in warmly commending ETC Group to its donors and partners for continuing and strengthened support".

SwedBio currently supports ETC Group for the project: "The Points for Moving On". The project period is September 2005 - August 2008.

In ETC Group's new programme for 2005 - 2008, "The Points for Moving on", ETC further develops the concept of Erosion, Technology and Concentration in the programme goal of "Strengthening resilience within and among marginalized peoples and supporting their resistance to pressures that threaten them". This programme has eight key "ETC" activity areas. Major components of the programme are the traditional ETC focus on genetic resources (Terminator, GM contamination in centres of origin, human genetic resources, patents on life, food sovereignty etc.) with links to advocacy and policymaking in UN fora such as CBD; CGIAR and FAO, as well as WTO, and providing valuable information for civil society grassroots' advocacy work.

The new area of nanotechnology, where ETC Group has put much effort in recent years, is expected to take more space in the coming programme. The link between nanotechnology, poverty alleviation, biodiversity and potential impact on developing countries is the focus for this part of the programme. Another important component is promoting mechanisms to ensure the engagement of South civil society and governments in public discourse concerning new technologies.