'Protein' Industry Convergence and its Implications for Resilient and Equitable Food Systems

'Protein' Industry Convergence and its Implications for Resilient and Equitable Food Systems
Howard, Philip H. and Ajena, Francesco and Yamaoka, Marina and Clarke, Amber. (2021). Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. Vol. 5. No. 684181. August. pp. 1-15. (Article - Journal; English).

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Alternative Locations

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.684181/full, https://capitalaspower.com/2021/08/howard-et-al-protein-industry-convergence-and-its-implications-for-resilient-and-equitable-food-systems/, http://hdl.handle.net/10419/242971

Abstract or Brief Description

Recent years have seen the convergence of industries that focus on higher protein foods, such as meat processing firms expanding into plant-based substitutes and/or cellular meat production, and fisheries firms expanding into aquaculture. A driving force behind these changes is dominant firms seeking to increase their power relative to close competitors, including by extending beyond boundaries that pose constraints to growth. The broad banner of “protein” offers a promising space to achieve this goal, despite its nutritionally reductionist focus on a single macronutrient. Protein firm strategies to increase their dominance are likely to further diminish equity in food systems by exacerbating power asymmetries. In addition, the resilience of food systems has the potential to be weakened as these strategies tend to reduce organizational diversity, as well as the genetic diversity of livestock and crops. To better understand these changes, we visually characterize firms that are most dominant in higher protein food industries globally and their recent strategic moves. We discuss the likelihood for these trends to further jeopardize food system resilience and equity, and we make recommendations for avoiding these impacts.

Language

English

Publication Type

Article - Journal

Keywords

consolidation differential accumulation distribution diversity ecology equity food power political ecology protein resilience

Subject

BN International & Global
BN Power
BN Production
BN Value & Price
BN Business Enterprise
BN Capital & Accumulation
BN Comparative
BN Conflict & Violence
BN Distribution
BN Ecology & Environment
BN Industrial Organization

Depositing User

Jonathan Nitzan

Date Deposited

09 Sep 2021 21:15

Last Modified

04 Oct 2021 16:06

URL:

https://bnarchives.net/id/eprint/697

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