New Study Shows Just How Exploitative the International Food System Is

It’s not news for anyone that the global market has heavily dependent and intertwined supply chains. How dangerous the sources of the trade routes, especially within the food system, can be, is now revealed in the newest publication released by our partners at Repórter Brasil. Whether it be coffee, oranges, beef or cocoa: many of the biggest produce industries meant for export are laced with exploitative work practices, slave and child labour, land grabbing, illegal deforestation.

European demands and the structure of the global food system uphold the status quo and could make the conditions a lot worse, potentially with fatal socio-environmental and socio-economic effects to already vulnerable areas and groups.

This paper aims to educate on the relations between our consumption behaviour, business ethics of large supermarkets and destructive, revenue-driven cultivation of produce – and how big our influence in the supply chain might be.

To read the full report in either English or Portuguese, scroll down to the PDF attachment!