Power Play: The Future of Food

Open-access ebook and the third instalment in a trilogy of books by the author exploring the global food system. This concise book examines how corporate consolidation and political centralisation intertwine to undermine democratic processes, emphasising the implications of these trends for food production. There is a critical examination of the ongoing corporate capture of Indian agriculture, highlighting the involvement of major global corporations. Despite a year-long farmers' agitation in India leading to the revocation of three controversial farm laws in 2021, the Indian government continues to pursue policies that favour corporatisation.

The book also critiques an increasingly technocratic approach to food production (AI, cloud platforms, genetic engineering, ‘precision’ agriculture etc.). By framing the discussion around monopolistic technologies, it challenges readers to explore more equitable and democratic alternatives, not least agroecology. The roots of the ongoing economic crisis in the Western countries are explored too. This crisis is linked to the shift towards authoritarianism and the narrative of ‘new normal’ based on top-down stakeholder capitalism, net-zero and a ‘food transition’.

Other key topics include a discussion on health implications stemming from current food systems and an analysis of how land is increasingly viewed as a commodity rather than a vital resource. The book also examines what the future of food may look like if we do not act and traces the shift from traditional farming to a technology-driven one-world food system and transhumanism.

This multifaceted approach identifies the need for urgent action against entrenched power structures that perpetuate corporate dependency and undermine the vibrancy of local communities. The book urges readers to reconsider the concepts of ‘development’ and ‘progress’ while recognising the transformative potential of re-localising food systems and reconnecting with traditional ecological wisdom. By drawing on agrarianism and historical movements, the book aims to inspire action towards reclaiming food sovereignty and challenging state-corporate power.