Food justice episode 2: Challenging corporate power in the food system

 

People vs Inequality logo with announcement: Food justice Episode 2: Challenging corporate power in the food system. With Nina Holland (CEO).

In the second episode of the food justice series we dive into the role of large multinational companies in the food system and what citizens and campaigners can do to shift power in favour of people and planet. We speak to Nina Holland, who is a researcher and campaigner on food and agriculture at Corporate Europe Observatory. 

Her motto: “If you want to win a fight, you need to know what you're up against and how the system works.“ 

As many citizens and activists are figuring out how to challenge the disproportionate power of corporations in political decision making and our lives, we hear from Nina about the tricks, narratives, and the solutions that she sees.

Keen to learn more about how to challenge corporate power - whether in the food system or beyond? Grab a coffee or tea and listen in on the conversation! 

A few reflections on this episode and topic that is luckily getting more attention these days:

It was great to finally have a chance to speak to Nina Holland and dive into the topic of corporate power that is keeping so many activists occupied. A recent report by IPES-Food showed once again just how disproportionate and harmful the power of large companies is in our food and agricultural system, from market power to lobby and direct influence in decision-making. E.g. 4 traders control 70-90 percent of global trade and industrial agricultural lobby is incredibly organized and powerful in Brussels - as we are seeing with the set-backs on much needed climate action.

Nina and her organisation Corporate Europe Observatory have long been working on this issue and there is so much experience, analysis and lessons learned that I feel can be relevant to others. For those working on food, but also other social and environmental justice issues, and our democracy which is also at stake.

She also reflects on the challenges and the importance of collective intelligence, coming together to really understand how the system works and working across different levels and issues/ sectors. Which is part of why we do this podcast in the first place, so I really appreciated her thoughts on this and the call on other organisations and definitely also funders to join in.

 



Also check out the resources to learn more about Nina's work and context:

https://corporateeurope.org/en/2022/12/not-so-soft-killing-eus-farm-fork-strategy

https://corporateeurope.org/en/2022/03/loud-lobby-silent-spring

https://corporateeurope.org/en/2021/10/leak-industrial-farm-lobbies-coordinated-attack-farm-fork-targets


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