Expanding markets, undermining food sovereignty: 10 years of China’s Belt and Road

Ten years into the Belt and Road Initiative projects, the expansion of corporate investments in the global agri-food system has reached new heights. As evidenced in this GRAIN report, it is hard to find anything “green” or small-scale about the BRI's plans in agriculture, fisheries and e-commerce.

Ten years into the Belt and Road Initiative projects, the expansion of corporate investments in the global agri-food system has reached new heights. As evidenced in this GRAIN report, it is hard to find anything “green” or small-scale about the BRI's plans in agriculture, fisheries and e-commerce.

Challenging e-commerce monopolisation in food distribution

E-commerce continues to expand rapidly into food distribution and retail across Asia, speeding up corporate control. These digital platforms increase the pricing power corporations have over farmers and enable them to bring workers in the food system under the control of invisible command centers.

E-commerce continues to expand rapidly into food distribution and retail across Asia, speeding up corporate control. These digital platforms increase the pricing power corporations have over farmers and enable them to bring workers in the food system under the control of invisible command centers.

Tackling the climate crisis by addressing food consumption

It is now common knowledge that we have to transform both how we produce and how we use energy to disrupt the current trajectory of climate change. Simply switching from “polluting” energy sources to “clean” ones will not work. We actually have to produce and use less energy altogether if we are to keep our planet liveable while fighting for justice and equity in terms of who can access and consume energy.

It is now common knowledge that we have to transform both how we produce and how we use energy to disrupt the current trajectory of climate change. Simply switching from “polluting” energy sources to “clean” ones will not work. We actually have to produce and use less energy altogether if we are to keep our planet liveable while fighting for justice and equity in terms of who can access and consume energy.

Squeezing communities dry: water grabbing by the global food industry

Pension fund managers, private equity firms and other financial players are moving aggressively to snatch up lands around the world with access to water for irrigation. Their strategy is to pump as much water as they can and as fast as they can into the production of crops, like fruits and nuts, that reap high prices in export markets.

Pension fund managers, private equity firms and other financial players are moving aggressively to snatch up lands around the world with access to water for irrigation. Their strategy is to pump as much water as they can and as fast as they can into the production of crops, like fruits and nuts, that reap high prices in export markets.

Social protection for market traders and street vendors in an era of pension fund capitalism

Following the work of many others who have been organising and working with market traders and street vendors, two important issues come to the forefront: one is the fight against harassments and evictions of small food traders; the other is the fight for social protection such as access to health services and income security.

Following the work of many others who have been organising and working with market traders and street vendors, two important issues come to the forefront: one is the fight against harassments and evictions of small food traders; the other is the fight for social protection such as access to health services and income security.

The AfDB strategy to agro-industrialise Africa

One of the main objectives of the African Development Bank is to transform African agriculture by moving towards "agro-industrialisation". Who are the actors who benefit the most? What are the implications for the peasantry?

One of the main objectives of the African Development Bank is to transform African agriculture by moving towards "agro-industrialisation". Who are the actors who benefit the most? What are the implications for the peasantry?

The corn conflict between Mexico and the USA: smoke and mirrors

A months-old conflict is pitting Mexico against the USA over the acceptance or rejection of biotech imports. Mexico wants to ban GM corn imports for direct human consumption. The USA is threatening sanctions.

A months-old conflict is pitting Mexico against the USA over the acceptance or rejection of biotech imports. Mexico wants to ban GM corn imports for direct human consumption. The USA is threatening sanctions.

Beyond the ‘informal economy’ of food distribution

Some have adopted terms like “solidarity economy” or “people’s sector” to more accurately convey the important role that the workers of the so-called "informal sector" play in the local economy and their key contribution in providing food to everyone. In this edition of the bulletin, we share stories of resilient Palestinian women farmers producing food boxes and of farmers in Laos using strategies to market their products in the face of a fuel price spike.

Some have adopted terms like “solidarity economy” or “people’s sector” to more accurately convey the important role that the workers of the so-called "informal sector" play in the local economy and their key contribution in providing food to everyone. In this edition of the bulletin, we share stories of resilient Palestinian women farmers producing food boxes and of farmers in Laos using strategies to market their products in the face of a fuel price spike.

The avocados of wrath

Avocados are the world’s third-largest fruit commodity. Their production is taking up an ever-growing area and continually expanding into new countries. What are the implications? What forces are driving it? How does this model, working on both global and local scales, manage to keep prices high?

Avocados are the world’s third-largest fruit commodity. Their production is taking up an ever-growing area and continually expanding into new countries. What are the implications? What forces are driving it? How does this model, working on both global and local scales, manage to keep prices high?

Will more sovereign wealth funds mean less food sovereignty?

A handful of actors form the centre of gravity of global agricultural investing by sovereign wealth funds. Find out what “sovereign wealth funds” are and how they go against people’s struggles for foodsovereignty.

A handful of actors form the centre of gravity of global agricultural investing by sovereign wealth funds. Find out what “sovereign wealth funds” are and how they go against people’s struggles for foodsovereignty.

Insights into the evolution of China's agri-food system

China’s globalised food strategies have led the country into a “contradiction” between self-sufficiency and food imports. In this interview, GRAIN assesses the impacts of the now corporate-based food system over the last four decades.

China’s globalised food strategies have led the country into a “contradiction” between self-sufficiency and food imports. In this interview, GRAIN assesses the impacts of the now corporate-based food system over the last four decades.

GRAIN's 2022 activity report

How did forces shaping the global food system unfold in 2022? Read GRAIN’s annual report to see how corporates pushed & social movements fought back around trade deals, land, the climate & seed struggles.

How did forces shaping the global food system unfold in 2022? Read GRAIN’s annual report to see how corporates pushed & social movements fought back around trade deals, land, the climate & seed struggles.