The role of transnational food and agriculture corporations in creating and responding to food crises

Abstract

Transnational corporations (TNCs) have been important players in the globalization of food and agriculture. The preceding papers focused on the ways in which the modern food system is a result of the growing influence and global expansion of agrifood TNCs. Pat Mooney outlined the increasing concentration in agricultural input corporations, highlighting the environmental and health costs that result from their power and control. Jennifer Clapp described the latest changes in commodity trading firms, showing that the historically private nature and evolving horizontal and vertical integration in this sector, along with new players, have been damaging for the environment and livelihoods. She argues for increasing transparency and greater regulatory oversight. Finally, Gyorgy Scrinis explored the ways in which food and beverage manufacturing companies (‘Big Food’) are responding to concerns about the health impacts of their products by adopting forms of corporate nutritionism.

Keywords

• corporations
• food crises
• corporate concentration
• nutritionism
• innovation