The World Food Crisis

Harriet Friedmann and Raj Patel

Institute for Social Science Research, Working Paper Series from Institute for Social Science Research, UCLA

Abstract: Harriet Friedman describes how the world food system has shifted away from cereal production for human consumption. The "meatification of diet" has led farmers and agribusiness to produce grains for animals. This shift is also typified by production for profit more than for feeding people. Significant problems have resulted such as misallocation of food, higher pollution, and lower species diversity. Moreover, it has given multinational corporations much more power including property rights on genetic materials. She ends her presentation with some possible alternatives. Raj Patel sets out the historical precedent for the current movement for food security and the largest obstacles to achieving this goal. He documents the changes in World Bank policy and how it has affected the food system. He concludes with some of the alternatives including those advanced by Via Campesina, the world’s largest social movement. The accompanying audio files provide the complete recording of the two talks.

Date: 2009-02-23
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