Geopolitics relates to how countries interact with each other and the spatial implications of this.
Start by watching this trailer to a film about land grabbing (Mali, Africa) and Kenyan Green Beans!
What is Geopolitics?
Geopolitics relates to how countries interact with each other and the impact of this. Decisions made by one country can have consequences for others. The influence of some countries is greater than others. This happens because of the mismatch between food production and consumption between countries.
Also, the food chain from farmer to consumer is increasingly in the hands of a relatively small number of key players who wield power and influence, e.g. TNCs and supermarket chains as well as governments.
Key players:
Food production: Governments e.g. the EU and the CAP
Agribusinesses e.g. Cargill...
Food Transfer: The FAO and the WTO (extension - find out what the WTO do - see the link at the end!)
Food consumption: The TNC supermarket chains e.g. Wal-Mart, Carrefour, Tesco
Questions to answer...
Resources to help you...
A new world map of food security risk
The Geopolitics of food- a report from Guatemala word doc
Global food prices at a high - Jan 2011... find out why... and more here (spot the journalist!!!)
The Impact of TNCs in Ecuador - WATCH Fairtrade Bananas - Ecuador
FAO: world food situation
The Global Land Grab? ... in Ethiopia ... Tanzania fights back? LOTS of examples linked on this page from The Guardian.
Chinese land grab in Argentina - word doc
BBC radio report - debating Land Grabbing in Africa.
UK Food Production: The Common Agricultural Policy Should we import from abroad or grow more food at home - a newsnight report worth watching?
The FAO Interactive map for world agricultural trade flows
The World Trade Organisation and criticisms it faces e.g this older article from The Guardian... and more links from here...
Land Grabbing in pictures - scroll through and note the arguements for and against