The “Monsantonization” of Agriculture

Abstract

Taking McDonald’s as an exemplar, George Ritzer analyzes the rationalization of society based on the efficiency, predictability, calculability, substitution of human for nonhuman technology, and control over uncertainty. The theory of “The McDonaldization of Society” can perfectly adapt to the agriculture sector and its green revolution led by the “miracle seeds” and by the agrochemical and seed corporations (such as Monsanto). While the benefits of globalization go to the seed and chemical corporations through expanding markets, the costs and risks are born exclusively by the small farmers and landless peasants. The high social, health, and ecological costs of the globalization of non-sustainable agriculture are a clear evidence of the “irrationality of rationality” that contrasts to the “benefits” that GMOs, herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers are supposed to bring to the world. Not in vain, there is a critical awakening in society about the spread of this rationalization of globalization, asking for more local and traditional practices, which is putting in evidence the “irrationality of rationality.” Some expressions of this strong bottom-up movement are those coming from the organic movement, NGOs, agricultural federations, local communities, and indigenous movements, among others.