Food Imperialism: Keeping the Poorest People Poor
The legacy of colonialism maintains an inequitable global food system, where the Global North exploits the resources, labour, and agricultural systems of the Global South.
Chances are, you’ve eaten food today that came from another country. Maybe your tomatoes were grown in Spain — it’s probably not tomato season in your part of the world after all. Perhaps you’ve had an apple from South Africa, pasta from Italy, or salmon from Norway. But how did the salmon get fed — where did the food pellets containing soy and fish meal come from? Where was the soy grown or the source fish caught?
Around 40% of British food is imported (and 83% of all fruit), but taking ingredients used within processed into account this could be as high as 80% coming from other countries. This globalised trade allows us to eat a diverse diet year-round, supporting partner economies, and increasing food security.
However, rather than presenting opportunities for economic development, particularly in the Global South, this global food trade has allowed leading world powers like the USA and the EU to exert dominance over poorer nations, through socially and environmentally damaging trade agreements. This is food imperialism.
