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The Food Systems Summit’s Failure to Address Corporate Power

Author

Listed:
  • Jennifer Clapp

    (University of Waterloo)

  • Indra Noyes

    (University of Waterloo)

  • Zachary Grant

    (University of Waterloo)

Abstract

Based on analysis of documentation associated with the UN Food Systems Summit process, we identify three main ways in which the Summit failed to address the problem of corporate power in food systems in a meaningful way. First, the Summit was ‘strategically silent’ on the problem of corporate power, mentioning the problem only very infrequently and in a way that failed to identify corporations as holding disproportionate power in food systems. Second, it advanced technology and innovation-based solutions that benefit large agrifood companies rather than seeking structural transformation of food systems. Third, it gave corporations a priority seat at the table by engaging them in various settings in the lead up to the Summit.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer Clapp & Indra Noyes & Zachary Grant, 2021. "The Food Systems Summit’s Failure to Address Corporate Power," Development, Palgrave Macmillan;Society for International Deveopment, vol. 64(3), pages 192-198, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:develp:v:64:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1057_s41301-021-00303-2
    DOI: 10.1057/s41301-021-00303-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Keith O. Fuglie & Matthew Clancy & Paul W. Heisey, 2018. "Private-Sector Research and Development," Innovation, Technology, and Knowledge Management, in: Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes & Elias G. Carayannis & Evangelos Grigoroudis & Stelios Rozakis (ed.), From Agriscience to Agribusiness, pages 41-73, Springer.
    2. Guanming Shi & Jean-paul Chavas & Kyle Stiegert, 2010. "An Analysis of the Pricing of Traits in the U.S. Corn Seed Market," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 92(5), pages 1324-1338.
    3. Jennifer Clapp, 2018. "Mega-Mergers on the Menu: Corporate Concentration and the Politics of Sustainability in the Global Food System," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 18(2), pages 12-33, May.
    4. Sylvie Bonny, 2017. "Corporate Concentration and Technological Change in the Global Seed Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-25, September.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Siera Vercillo & Sheila Rao & Rosalind Ragetlie & Jennifer Vansteenkiste, 2023. "Nourishing the Nexus: A Feminist Analysis of Gender, Nutrition and Agri-food Development Policies and Practices," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 35(6), pages 1261-1293, December.
    3. Johanna Wilkes, 2022. "Reconnecting with Nature through Good Governance: Inclusive Policy across Scales," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-14, March.
    4. Amber van den Akker & Alice Fabbri & Scott Slater & Anna B. Gilmore & Cecile Knai & Harry Rutter, 2024. "Mapping actor networks in global multi-stakeholder initiatives for food system transformation," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 16(5), pages 1223-1234, October.
    5. Phoebe Stephens & Lucy Hinton, 2025. "Food crises in the third food regime: an exploratory frame analysis of mainstream governance responses," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 42(1), pages 69-88, March.
    6. Carla Vanessa Alves Lopes & John Hunter & Renee Cawthorne & Shirley Gilbert & Ayoola Shogunle & Cassandra Ebsworth & Mike Bartlett & Rimante Ronto & Seema Mihrshahi, 2025. "Integrating Australian Native Foods for a More Sustainable Food System: A Qualitative Co-Design Study with Aboriginal Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(4), pages 1-35, April.

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