Neoliberal Globalization and the Transformation of Agriculture: Case Studies from Developing Nations

Presenter

Rebecca L. Yen

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Deepika Marya, Honors College, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 3, 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A10, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 1 (A1-A20) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Since the 1980s, there has been a significant increase in corporate involvement in agriculture. This involvement was facilitated by policies created by multinational organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), World Bank (WB), who implemented structural adjustment plans (SAP) on developing countries to loosen trade regulations. These SAPs have broadly included decreasing government spending towards welfare of the people through domestic subsidies, privatizing government entities, eliminating import quotas, reducing tariffs, and eliminating price controls on imported goods. As corporations from developed countries became involved in agricultural enterprises in developing nations, the very nature of agriculture has transformed from an industry that serves communities by providing food and natural resources, to one that provides profits to corporations and foreign entities. This paper will explore case studies that demonstrate how neoliberal policies set by the WTO, World Bank (WB) and IMF, have impacted five countries: Cote de Ivory, Haiti, Burkina Faso, India, and Brazil. All three regions, Africa, Asia, and Latin America have been majorly impacted by structural adjustments and were transformed into major exporters of agricultural products largely to the benefit of developed nations. Through each case study, I aim to demonstrate how structural inequalities perpetuated by neoliberal policies have impacted these regions, who is benefitting from the changes implemented, and what the long-term impacts of these changes will be on these countries and their societies.

Keywords

Globalization, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Neoliberal Policy

Research Area

Globalization and Development

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