‘We Are What We Eat’: The Agro-Food Industries Chapter 9 ‘We Are What We Eat’: The Agro-Food Industries

Review Concepts to Review Key Words Transportation technologies, resource- extractive industries, ethical consumer practices, uneven globalization, role of the state Key Words Renewable resources, agricultural practices, global consumption patterns, genetically modified organisms, branding

The Agro-Food Industries: Definition and Structure Characteristics of the industry Globalization of agro-food Production local, distribution increasingly global ‘Just-in-time’ industry Agro-food and technology ‘Global cool chains’ Biotechnologies Industrially produced chemicals Genetic modification Food additives

The State versus the Corporation Role of the state Shape of the corporations Regulation of the industry The labour force

The Market The consumer Although most people struggle to survive, consumers in developed world are spoilt for choice Food choices complex and embedded Embrace diversity of new food products Rise of ethical consumer movement Branding Dominated by branded products Products sold as global brands, also simultaneously sold under a local label Identity is key

Global Retail Biggest food retailers: Have been domestically oriented for most of their histories Have become increasingly transnational vary considerably in their degree of transnationalism Competing with local firms is difficult The use of local partners can avoid some of the difficulties of expansion Retailers expand their sourcing