Civil society challenges the global food system: the International Monsanto Tribunal |
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Authors: | Nienke Busscher Eva Lia Colombo Lidewij van der Ploeg Julia Inés Gabella Amalia Leguizamón |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Cultural Geography, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlandsnienkebusscher@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7968-0891;3. Centre for Latin American Research and Documentation (CEDLA) Fellow, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1066-1948;4. Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8429-0532;5. Departamento de Geografía y Turismo, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia Blanca, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8705-5829;6. Sociology Department and Stone Center for Latin American Studies, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7139-3433 |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACTThe global food system has severe implications for human health, soil quality, biodiversity, and quality of life. This paper provides an analysis on how transnational alliances challenge the global food system. We illustrate this by focusing on the activities and hearings of the International Monsanto Tribunal (IMT), held in the Hague in 2016. The IMT provided a platform for civil society and enabled transnational alliances to demand attention for local struggles and legal disputes in relation to Monsanto’s products. With the involvement of independent and renowned experts, the knowledge exchange between local victims and civil society was enhanced, and the IMT reinforced social movement’s goals towards demanding justice for the negative effects associated with the global food system. The advisory opinion determined that Monsanto’s practices are in violation with human rights standards. The IMT exemplified that there is an immediate need for structural change in the current global food system. |
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Keywords: | GMOs global food system transnational movements human rights international peoples’ tribunals ecocide |
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