EXPLOITATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND RURAL COMMUNITIES BY GLOBAL FOOD COMPANIES

Emel Okur-Berberoglu

doi:10.24057/2071-9388-2014-7-4-54-67

Abstract

Globalization is determined by creation and growth of global capital markets for goods and services at international trade and environment level. In year 2013, the total food sales of the top 100 food companies in the world amounted to US$ 1,332,070 million. The headquarters of these companies are established in 20 different countries in 6 different geographical areas. The food sales comprised of 39 % from North America, 32 % from Europe, 21 % from Eastern Asia, % 3 from South America, 3 % from Nordic, and 2 % from Oceania. Globalization potentially creates monopolies. Most of the literatures on environmental issues indicate that these companies increase their profits in three ways: cheap labour, unethical policies, exploitation of environmental resources.

Highlights

“Globalization” is one of the most popular terms used recently
There was not any subject related to either environmental resources or brown revolution at the conference [Global Business, 2006]. It is assumed companies would have taken seriously the ways in which they could profit without having a negative impact on environmental resources and rural population
Pacheco de Carvalho [2011:18] tried to explain food balance through an equation but there was not any component related to environmental resources in this equation

Summary

Introduction

“Globalization” is one of the most popular terms used recently. Burke [1998: 91] identifies globalisation as “creation and growth of global capital markets for goods and services in terms of international trade and environment level”. France’s Danone [Groupe Danone, 1996], Italy’s Parmalat [Goldberg, 2005], Ireland’s North Kerry Milk Product [Bernardi and White, 2006], and India’s Kohinoor Foods Limited [Malcolm, 2010] are important food companies on the global scale. Kumar and Budin [2006: 743] presented a diagram at the Conference of Global Business showing the food supply process from farming to consumers. There was not any subject related to either environmental resources or brown revolution at the conference [Global Business, 2006]. It is assumed companies would have taken seriously the ways in which they could profit without having a negative impact on environmental resources and rural population. It is thought that this is visible side of an iceberg

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion