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Dueling Visions: Impacts on Food and Environment

Dueling Visions: Impacts on Food and Environment. William D. Heffernan Professor Emeritus of Rural Sociology University of Missouri - Columbia. IAASTD. International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development. The Big Question.

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Dueling Visions: Impacts on Food and Environment

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  1. Dueling Visions:Impacts on Food and Environment William D. Heffernan Professor Emeritus of Rural Sociology University of Missouri - Columbia

  2. IAASTD International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development

  3. The Big Question “How can we reduce hunger and poverty, improve rural livelihoods, and facilitate equitable, environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable development through the generation, access to, and use of agricultural, knowledge, science and technology?” Science, 14 March 2008, vol. 319

  4. “On several key issues, consensus proved elusive. Industry scientists and some academics---mainly agricultural economists and plant biologists---believed the assessment was ‘hijacked’ by participants who opposed genetically modified (GM) crops and other common tools of industrial agriculture. Tensions peaked in October when Monsanto and Syngenta walked out of the assessment.” Science, 14 March 2008, vol. 319

  5. “Many of the participants, who include activists and social scientists, are pleased with the outcome. They note that the voice of the experience of small scale farmers, particularly women, have finally been brought to the fore by the assessment. It really deals with issues of power, influence, and benefits.” Science, 14 March 2008, vol. 319

  6. Key Findings of IAASTD • Focus on “agroecological” strategies to address issues. • Create opportunities for poor farmers and rural laborers. • Do more to involve women to advance toward sustainability and develop goals. • Integrate formal, traditional, and community-based knowledge. • Create space for diverse voices and include social scientists in policy. Science, 14 March 2008, vol. 319

  7. Early Capitalism Mature Capitalism Competitive markets Oligopolistic markets Firm survival depends on efficiency Firm survival depends on power Social / Economic / Political Organization vs.

  8. The Chicago School of Economics used theories developed in early capitalism to justify and legitimizes mature capitalism without regard to the assumptions. Their theory became ideology.

  9. Forces Impacting The Food System • Horizontal integration • Vertical integration • Emerging global forces

  10. Horizontal Integration • When a firm expands by acquiring another similar firm • CR4 – This is the proportion of the market that the top 4 firms in one particular sector control

  11. Acquired by Brazilian firm JBS S.A. in the last year. JBS is largest meatpacker in world. Bought by Supervalu and Cerebus

  12. Vertical Integration • Connects two or more stages of the food system together • Can occur by ownership or through strategic alliances, (i.e. joint ventures, long-term agreements, etcetera)

  13. Globalization • Global players: • Monsanto, DuPont, Cargill, ADM, Bunge, Smithfield, CP Group, Tyson, Unilever, Nestle, ConAgra, Kraft • Carrefour, Wal-Mart, Tesco, Ahold • Where is the power?

  14. In Our Food System, Who Decides? • What food is produced? • Where it is produced? • Who produces it? • How? • Who gets to eat it?

  15. Is food so unique that it requires exceptional public policies?

  16. It is important to note that the Council on Foreign Relations, the Bilderberg, and the Trilateral Commission bring together heads of competing corporations and leaders of competing national political parties for closed-door discussions and consensus-building processes that the public never sees. Although the participants may believe that they represent a broad spectrum of intersectoral and even international perspectives, in truth, it is a closed and exclusive process limited to elite Stratos dwellers. Participants are predominantly male, wealthy, form Northern industrial counties, and except for the Japanese on the Trilateral Commission, Caucasian. Other voices are excluded. When Corporations Rule the World by David C. Korten

  17. Is the Current Food System Failing Us? • 46% of the world’s population earns less than $2 per day. • 73.5% of the cost in the current federal farm bill is allocated for feeding the poor in the U.S. • One of the major issues faced by those in the alternative food movement is how to develop a system that feeds the poor.

  18. Contrasting Visions vs. high tech high energy low labor scientific knowledge highly capitalized operations low tech low energy high labor indigenous + scientific knowledge subsistence agriculture

  19. Is the corporate mission of increasing the wealth of stockholders compatible with producing food for all and preserving the environment for future generations?

  20. For More Information: • Consolidation in the Food System www.foodcircles.missouri.edu/consol • International Assessment of Agriculture Science and Technology for Development www.agassessment.org – Final reports to be posted in May 2008.

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