In a new photo essay, rice farming in southern China is put under the spotlight to show how traditional methods are still working well without any tinkering from the GM industry.
John Novis is the head of photography for our international office (although he works here in London just a couple of desks away from me) and his job description is an enviable one. Images from Greenpeace photographers all over the world cross his desk, whether it's from an action in Mexico or a research trip across the Arctic.
But John's also an accomplished photographer and occasionally gets out into the field himself. One of his recent expeditions was to China to document how rice is farmed in the southern province of Yunnan. For the people there, rice is more than just a staple food, it's an essential part of their culture although the spectre of genetically modified rice puts this at risk.
In this photo essay, John explains how he was part of a Greenpeace team who spent time in Yunnan learning more about the successful farming practices which have been used for generations, and which don't rely on GM technology. Not all the pictures are John's, however - as part of a year-long project, farmers were given cameras to take their own shots and the results are quite remarkable.
Watch the slideshow on our international site.
