About the book
The financialization, globalization and industrialization of our food systems make it increasingly difficult to access quality fresh food. In fact, the industrialized global food system is creating products that are less food-like, engendering growing questions about the health and safety of our food supply. In addition, the bio-engineering of food commodities is another factor influencing the growth of industrial farming for an increasingly homogenized, globalized market.
This book describes the financialization process in commodity futures markets which transformed commodities into an asset class. Incorporated into the portfolio decisions of investors, commodity prices now behave like all asset prices, becoming more volatile and subject to periodic bubbles. As commodity prices were driven higher in the 2000s, farmland became more valuable, setting off a global land grab by investors, nations, and corporations. More recently, under the financialization food regime, slow growth and low returns encouraged merger activity driven by private equity firms, with food industry corporations as prime targets, leading to increased industry concentration.
With government policy focused on supporting corporate interests, there has been a global reaction to the current food system. The food sovereignty movement is taking on the interests behind the global land grab, and the regional food movement in cities across the U.S. is hitting corporations at the bottom line. Food corporations are listening. Is the food movement winning?
This book is of interest to those who study political economy, financialization and agriculture and related studies, as well as food systems and commodity future markets.
Editions of The Political Economy of Food and Finance
- EBook
- ISBN 9781317561347
- PDF
- ISBN 9781317561354
Read an Excerpt
The financialization, globalization and industrialization of our food systems make it increasingly difficult to access quality fresh food. In fact, the industrialized global food system is creating products that are less food-like, engendering growing questions about the health and safety of our food supply. In addition, the bio-engineering of food commodities is another factor influencing the growth of industrial farming for an increasingly homogenized, globalized market.
This book describes the financialization process in commodity futures markets which transformed commodities into an asset class. Incorporated into the portfolio decisions of investors, commodity prices now behave like all asset prices, becoming more volatile and subject to periodic bubbles. As commodity prices were driven higher in the 2000s, farmland became more valuable, setting off a global land grab by investors, nations, and corporations. More recently, under the financialization food regime, slow growth and low returns encouraged merger activity driven by private equity firms, with food industry corporations as prime targets, leading to increased industry concentration.
With government policy focused on supporting corporate interests, there has been a global reaction to the current food system. The food sovereignty movement is taking on the interests behind the global land grab, and the regional food movement in cities across the U.S. is hitting corporations at the bottom line. Food corporations are listening. Is the food movement winning?
This book is of interest to those who study political economy, financialization and agriculture and related studies, as well as food systems and commodity future markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Political Economy of Food and Finance about?
The financialization, globalization and industrialization of our food systems make it increasingly difficult to access quality fresh food. In fact, the industrialized global food system is creating products that are less food-like, engendering growing questions about the health and safety of our food supply. In addition, the bio-engineering of food commodities is another factor influencing the growth of industrial farming for an increasingly homogenized, globalized market.
This book describes the financialization process in commodity futures markets which transformed commodities into an asset class. Incorporated into the portfolio decisions of investors, commodity prices now behave like all asset prices, becoming more volatile and subject to periodic bubbles. As commodity prices were driven higher in the 2000s, farmland became more valuable, setting off a global land grab by investors, nations, and corporations. More recently, under the financialization food regime, slow growth and low returns encouraged merger activity driven by private equity firms, with food industry corporations as prime targets, leading to increased industry concentration.
With government policy focused on supporting corporate interests, there has been a global reaction to the current food system. The food sovereignty movement is taking on the interests behind the global land grab, and the regional food movement in cities across the U.S. is hitting corporations at the bottom line. Food corporations are listening. Is the food movement winning?
This book is of interest to those who study political economy, financialization and agriculture and related studies, as well as food systems and commodity future markets.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Political Economy of Food and Finance?
Economics, Finance, Business and Management > Economics > Political economy
Where can I read a sample of The Political Economy of Food and Finance?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781317561347
Is The Political Economy of Food and Finance part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Political Economy of Food and Finance?
Ted P. Schmidt
Who is the Publisher of the book The Political Economy of Food and Finance?
Taylor and Francis
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Political Economy of Food and Finance is available as ebook(ISBN 9781317561347) and pdf(ISBN 9781317561354)