GLOBALIZATION AND URBANIZATION IMPACT ON FOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERNS: SOME ISSUES

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GLOBALIZATION AND URBANIZATION -IMPACT ON FOOD
CONSUMPTION PATTERNSSOME ISSUES

• Abul Barkat, Ph.D
• Professor, Economics Department
• University of Dhaka
• General Secretary,
• Bangladesh Economic Association
• Email hdrc.bd_at_gmail.com

Prepared for presentation at CIRDAP Dhaka 4
April 2007
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2. Globalization Meaning What?

• No consensus regarding use of concept, and
  phenomena it is used to describe and/or
• prescribe.
• 2. The removal of barriers to free trade
• and the closer integration of national
  economies..
• But ... the way globalization
• has been managed, .. , need to be radically
  rethought
• (Stiglitz, Globalization its Discontents
  2002)
• 3. Worldwide interpenetration and
  interdependence of all sectorseconomic,
  political, social,
• cultural, and military (Barkat et.el 2002)
• 4. Globalization ... is perhaps the most
  profound source of international transformation
  since the industrial revolution ... . The
  adjective global refers less to a place than to
  a space defined by electronic flows and a state
  of mind (Kofi Annan, 1997).
• 5. Encompasses diffusion of practices, values
  and technology that have an influence on peoples
  lives worldwide (Albrow 1997).
• 6. Shrinking planet phenomenon (Eastwood 2002).
• 7. Network society (Castells 1996).

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3. GLOBALIZATION MEANING WHAT? ...CONTD
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4. GLOBALIZATION URBANIZATION CASE OF SHAWAZ
BEGUM
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5. POVERTY INEQUALITY FEATURES OF
GLOBALIZATION

• Rich countries with 14 worlds population
  command over 75 global GDP
• For every 1 generated through global exports in
  international trading system, low income
  countries account for only 3 cents.
• Export growth with highly exploitative employment
  practices

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6. IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON FOOD-RELATED HEALTH

• Risks posed by globalization
• Income differentials cause basic
  poverty-associated conditions for poor health.
• Job insecurity, substandard wages, lowest-common
  denominator approach to occupational
  environmental conditions safety can jeopardize
  health of workers their families.
• Diseases of dietary excesses, as food production
  food processing become intensified, as urban
  consumer preferences are shaped by globally
  promoted images.
• Continued widespread rise of urban obesity.

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7. Diseases of Globalization

• In countries experiencing uneven growth
  associated with globalization process, population
  tends to experience a rising incidence of NCDs
  non-communicable diseases Cancer, heart
  disease, diabetes related to a shift away from
  subsistence agriculture to a growing cash
  economy, urbanization, more sedentary lifestyles
  (McMurray and Smith 2001)
• Increasing prevalence of NCDsthe diseases of
  globalization is linked with increase in
  certain lifestyle risk factors lack of exercise,
  excess body weight, smoking, alcohol consumption
  as well as the broader aspects of wealth
  distribution lack of education. Globalization
  promotes these risk factors.
• By 2020, deaths from NCDsexpected to double
  cause 7/10 deaths in developing countries.
• Ranking of top ten risk factors responsible for
  two thirds of all deaths worldwide underweight
  (under-nutrition) unsafe sex high blood
  pressure tobacco consumption alcohol
  consumption, unsafe water inadequate sanitation
  and hygiene iron deficiency indoor smoke from
  solid fuels high cholesterol, obesity (WHO
  20027).
• Ample evidence certain patterns of death
  disability are caused by the lifestyle changes
  increased consumption of unhealthy products
  associated with contemporary aspects of
  globalization.

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8. Diseases of Globalization contd
Trends in causes of death. (1) communicable,
perinatal, maternal and nutritional (2)
non-communicable diseases (3) injuries. Source
Murray and Lopez 1997.
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9. EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH

• Environmental effects of globalization global
  climate change, depletion of planets
  stratospheric ozone layer, destabilization
  destruction of natural ecosystems,
  desertification, variety of chemical pollution.
• Many types of global environmental health risks
  are linked to increasing water demands of
  commercial agriculture industry that are
  depleting and/or polluting worlds finite fresh
  water supplies.

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10. Urbanization or Slumization?

• Urbanization as poverty driven rural-push
  migration without concomitant industrialization
• Most push migrants settle in slums in informal
  sector

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11. Changes in urban population size in South
Asian countries (in million)
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12. Negative Impact of Globalization
Liberalization on Food Agr.

• A reduction in yields, due to collapse of
  extension systems, loss of access to credit,
  sharply increased fertilizer prices
• Pressure on small farmers to operate through a
  monopolistic private trading system
• Extreme vulnerability to price volatility, made
  worse in absence of functioning insurance or
  credit markets
• A reduction in export quality, due to dismantling
  of quality-control systems, resulting in lower
  prices a tarnished reputation on world markets

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13. BIOTECHNOLOGY, PATENTS, AND FOOD SECURITY
Taking care of seed is essential for small
farmers to survive. But now with TRIPS, the act
of saving, exchanging, and selling seeds is being
prohibited. Taking away the right to reproduce
and share seeds is like taking away our lives.
How can someone suddenly claim ownership over
genetic resources? (Leopoldo Guilaran, rice
farmer, island of Negros, the Philippines)
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14. TRIPS AND BEYOND THREAT TO FOOD SECURITY

• Bio-piracy
• Control over seeds
• TRIPs Plus applied to seeds

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Thank You