"The idea that developing countries should feed themselves is an anachronism from a bygone era. They could better ensure their food security by relying on US agricultural products, which are available in most cases at lower cost."
                                                                    - US Agriculture Secretary John Block under Reagan, 1986

The Underlying Complexities of Corporate Control

Although this statement was made over 20 years ago, the basic approach to agricultural business is still prevalent today. There are large corporations interests behind nearly every free trade and investment agreement. Transnational corporations (TNCs), industry coalitions, and lobbyists have influenced trade and investment negotiations as well as how consumers consider production through the World Trade Organization (WTO), governments, and media for decades. This aggressive approach has stomped on the rights of the workers, businesses, and developing economies in the Global South. 

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