Food Sovereignty
One of the greatest issues that the Mexican people face is food sovereignty. Due to the globalization of the world food system, food production has become characterized by “large-scale, highly mechanized, monocultural, and chemical-intensive methods” (Norberg-Hodge, Merrifield, Gorelick. p 3). Mexico has been one of the countries that has been greatly affected by this. While the country produces enough food to feed its people, the majority of it is exported to other countries. This is due largely to NAFTA. While Mexico has long been a trading partner with Canada and the US, after the introduction of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, Mexico’s exports, and therefore imports, grew substantially. Growing neo-liberalism and NAFTA allows large corporations more access to developing countries (such as Mexico) and their resources. Land that originally grew food organically to sustain local peoples is now being grown industrially to be used for feeding the people (mostly through the production of high fructose corn syrup), animals (as a cheap, though unhealthy, feedlot staple), and cars (as a basic component of biofuel) of the wealthy nations of the world.
Because Mexico exports so much of its food, it must also import it. TNCs have once again stepped in here, making the most of the deficit. Because agricultural TNCs are subsidized, they are able to produce food, and therefore sell it, at much lower prices than small local campesinos without subsidies who trying to compete at the market. This is often the reason that families who have been self sustained and farming for decades give up their land and move to the city in hopes of better paying work. They simply cannot afford to farm any longer.
Unfortunately, campesinos who move to the cities have very little hope getting employment there either. Most people work in the informal economy, selling a variety of items or offering their services, with no guarantee of what sum they may come home with. Needless to say, the 70% of the population that is considered lower class is in a state of poverty (Gandy). Because of this, many Mexicans have resorted to migrant work in the US and Canada.
All of this disparity is rooted in the lack of sovereignty Mexico has over its own food resources. Governments and organizations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) offer band aid solutions to the problem of hunger that countries like Mexico are facing. But borrowed money and food-aid are not fixing the problem. But the people have not given up hope. Many have turned to the international growing demand for fair trade products and have created worker co-operations that sell fair trade both at a local and international level. A number of grassroots organizations and resistance groups have formed in Mexico and across the world to advocate food sovereignty as a better solution. Groups such as La Via Campesina are standing for the rights of the people and the rights of nature to be protected through petitioning, protests, media, and public demonstrations.
Because Mexico exports so much of its food, it must also import it. TNCs have once again stepped in here, making the most of the deficit. Because agricultural TNCs are subsidized, they are able to produce food, and therefore sell it, at much lower prices than small local campesinos without subsidies who trying to compete at the market. This is often the reason that families who have been self sustained and farming for decades give up their land and move to the city in hopes of better paying work. They simply cannot afford to farm any longer.
Unfortunately, campesinos who move to the cities have very little hope getting employment there either. Most people work in the informal economy, selling a variety of items or offering their services, with no guarantee of what sum they may come home with. Needless to say, the 70% of the population that is considered lower class is in a state of poverty (Gandy). Because of this, many Mexicans have resorted to migrant work in the US and Canada.
All of this disparity is rooted in the lack of sovereignty Mexico has over its own food resources. Governments and organizations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) offer band aid solutions to the problem of hunger that countries like Mexico are facing. But borrowed money and food-aid are not fixing the problem. But the people have not given up hope. Many have turned to the international growing demand for fair trade products and have created worker co-operations that sell fair trade both at a local and international level. A number of grassroots organizations and resistance groups have formed in Mexico and across the world to advocate food sovereignty as a better solution. Groups such as La Via Campesina are standing for the rights of the people and the rights of nature to be protected through petitioning, protests, media, and public demonstrations.
Concepts
NAFTA: The North American Free Trade Agreement is an agreement between Mexico, the US, and Canada which opens borders to allow products to flow more easily in and out of these countries by eliminating tariffs, and trade regulation. In fact, NAFTA not only allows but enforces free trade: according to a chapter in the NAFTA agreement, large corporations have the right to sue countries for "potential loss". When Mexico tried to close its borders to corn syrup imports, the large corporation selling it sued Mexico for 7.7 million dollars because of the loss of profit such a move would incur (Immigration Problems Lecture, Kim).
Fair Trade: giving small scale producers the right to sell their products at a fair price. "Fair Trade is an alternative approach to conventional international trade which promotes social equity, economic security and sound environmental practices. It’s goal is to contribute to sustainable development by improving market access for disadvantaged producers, by raising awareness and campaigning. It works to a set of values and objectives that seek to improve living standards and achieve a fairer distribution of income and influence. It is a partnership between all involved in the trading process — producers, workers, traders and consumers" (Ten Thousand Villages News, Canada, March/April 1999, p1)
Neo-liberalism: a view of government-economy relations that advocates deregulation of trade, privatization of land and resources, and minimal state interference. These three things are the reason for many of the changes in trade regulation that have opened borders and allowed the intrusion of TNCs.
Organic Farming: growing food or raising animals without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers and "typically oriented towards local and regional consumption" (Norberg-Hodge et al, 4). While this form of farming often requires more work on the part of the farmer it is also better for the environment, more sustainable, and generally produces better quality, whole food.
Industrial Farming: growing food or raising animals on large scale operations that rely heavily on chemical pesticides and fertilizers with a general purpose of simply profit, regardless of damage to the environment, people or culture.
Campesino: a peasant farmer.
Subsidizing: sums of money that benefit large scale production operations, allowing them to sell the final product at a rate much lower than small scale farmers who are not eligible for the funding. Often put into place by governments to increase production rates.
Informal Economy: those that work each day at offering various services and wares in hopes of income, but have no regular wage or benefits.
Migrant Workers: people that leave their own countries in search of employment. In the US, all migrant workers are illegal, even though they contribute a crucial labour force to the economy. In Canada, the Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program provides a legal way for foreigners to work in the country. However, conditions are often unhealthy or dangerous, wages low, and laws made that restrict the right of worker unions to strike (lecture, Aaron Diaz).
World Bank/IMF: international financial institutions that were created to lend money to countries to improve infrastructure, health, and social situations. Unfortunately, countries often incur huge debts to these institutions, and are therefore subject to many stipulations of how the money must be spent (Norberge-Hodge et al, 12).
La Via Campesina: According to Annette Desmarais in her book La Via Campesina: Globalization and the Power of Peasants, La Via Campesina is “a transnational movement embracing organizations of peasants, small and medium-scale farmers, rural women, farm workers, and indigenous agrarian communities in Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Africa. These groups are linked together through their intimate connections to the land” (6)
Fair Trade: giving small scale producers the right to sell their products at a fair price. "Fair Trade is an alternative approach to conventional international trade which promotes social equity, economic security and sound environmental practices. It’s goal is to contribute to sustainable development by improving market access for disadvantaged producers, by raising awareness and campaigning. It works to a set of values and objectives that seek to improve living standards and achieve a fairer distribution of income and influence. It is a partnership between all involved in the trading process — producers, workers, traders and consumers" (Ten Thousand Villages News, Canada, March/April 1999, p1)
Neo-liberalism: a view of government-economy relations that advocates deregulation of trade, privatization of land and resources, and minimal state interference. These three things are the reason for many of the changes in trade regulation that have opened borders and allowed the intrusion of TNCs.
Organic Farming: growing food or raising animals without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers and "typically oriented towards local and regional consumption" (Norberg-Hodge et al, 4). While this form of farming often requires more work on the part of the farmer it is also better for the environment, more sustainable, and generally produces better quality, whole food.
Industrial Farming: growing food or raising animals on large scale operations that rely heavily on chemical pesticides and fertilizers with a general purpose of simply profit, regardless of damage to the environment, people or culture.
Campesino: a peasant farmer.
Subsidizing: sums of money that benefit large scale production operations, allowing them to sell the final product at a rate much lower than small scale farmers who are not eligible for the funding. Often put into place by governments to increase production rates.
Informal Economy: those that work each day at offering various services and wares in hopes of income, but have no regular wage or benefits.
Migrant Workers: people that leave their own countries in search of employment. In the US, all migrant workers are illegal, even though they contribute a crucial labour force to the economy. In Canada, the Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program provides a legal way for foreigners to work in the country. However, conditions are often unhealthy or dangerous, wages low, and laws made that restrict the right of worker unions to strike (lecture, Aaron Diaz).
World Bank/IMF: international financial institutions that were created to lend money to countries to improve infrastructure, health, and social situations. Unfortunately, countries often incur huge debts to these institutions, and are therefore subject to many stipulations of how the money must be spent (Norberge-Hodge et al, 12).
La Via Campesina: According to Annette Desmarais in her book La Via Campesina: Globalization and the Power of Peasants, La Via Campesina is “a transnational movement embracing organizations of peasants, small and medium-scale farmers, rural women, farm workers, and indigenous agrarian communities in Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Africa. These groups are linked together through their intimate connections to the land” (6)
