Corporations

GRAIN’s central focus is to support social movements across the world in their resistance to the growing corporate control over food production, markets and trade. We undertake research on how corporations – including agribusiness, large retail and the finance industry – displace millions of small-scale food producers and how trade and investment deals impose the legal conditions for it. 

Apart from our information work, we also support the efforts of partners and peoples’ movements to improve strategies, cooperation and popular action to challenge corporate power, and build capacity with them to achieve this.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil explained

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil is a front group protecting agribusiness companies and industrial monocultures. New primer explains what RSPO is and its impacts on local communities & workers.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil is a front group protecting agribusiness companies and industrial monocultures. New primer explains what RSPO is and its impacts on local communities & workers.

Expanding markets, undermining food sovereignty: 10 years of China’s Belt and Road

Ten years into the Belt and Road Initiative projects, the expansion of corporate investments in the global agri-food system has reached new heights. As evidenced in this GRAIN report, it is hard to find anything “green” or small-scale about the BRI's plans in agriculture, fisheries and e-commerce.

Ten years into the Belt and Road Initiative projects, the expansion of corporate investments in the global agri-food system has reached new heights. As evidenced in this GRAIN report, it is hard to find anything “green” or small-scale about the BRI's plans in agriculture, fisheries and e-commerce.

AfCFTA: More free trade? For whose benefit? ​

The AfCFTA pushes a model of “development” hinged on increased trade and investment under the guise of pan-Africanism. However, it is “more of the same” trade rules that we see under the WTO and bilateral agreements. Therefore, it will likely only benefit African elites and transnational capital, at the expense of local communities.

The AfCFTA pushes a model of “development” hinged on increased trade and investment under the guise of pan-Africanism. However, it is “more of the same” trade rules that we see under the WTO and bilateral agreements. Therefore, it will likely only benefit African elites and transnational capital, at the expense of local communities.

The AfDB strategy to agro-industrialise Africa

One of the main objectives of the African Development Bank is to transform African agriculture by moving towards "agro-industrialisation". Who are the actors who benefit the most? What are the implications for the peasantry?

One of the main objectives of the African Development Bank is to transform African agriculture by moving towards "agro-industrialisation". Who are the actors who benefit the most? What are the implications for the peasantry?

A corporate cartel fertilises food inflation

A new report reveals rampant profiteering from the fertiliser industry, emphasising the urgent need for global cuts in chemical fertiliser use. Sustainable, agroecological farming systems less reliant on chemical input is key to building resilient food systems.

A new report reveals rampant profiteering from the fertiliser industry, emphasising the urgent need for global cuts in chemical fertiliser use. Sustainable, agroecological farming systems less reliant on chemical input is key to building resilient food systems.

Will more sovereign wealth funds mean less food sovereignty?

A handful of actors form the centre of gravity of global agricultural investing by sovereign wealth funds. Find out what “sovereign wealth funds” are and how they go against people’s struggles for foodsovereignty.

A handful of actors form the centre of gravity of global agricultural investing by sovereign wealth funds. Find out what “sovereign wealth funds” are and how they go against people’s struggles for foodsovereignty.

Hunger profiteers in Latin America

Latin America is the world's largest exporter of food, but 4 in 10 people live with food insecurity in the region. Meanwhile, corporations and investors are making record profits by further entrenching impoverished food systems.

Latin America is the world's largest exporter of food, but 4 in 10 people live with food insecurity in the region. Meanwhile, corporations and investors are making record profits by further entrenching impoverished food systems.

The corporate agenda behind carbon farming

In this short video/text, GRAIN explains how giant agribusiness corporations like Bayer are rolling out carbon credit scams (a.k.a. carbon farming) to increase their power over farmers and extract more profits.

In this short video/text, GRAIN explains how giant agribusiness corporations like Bayer are rolling out carbon credit scams (a.k.a. carbon farming) to increase their power over farmers and extract more profits.

China and Vietnam’s questionable strategy to control Asia’s pig pandemic

In this update to previous GRAIN reports on African swine fever, we look into China and Vietnam’s questionable strategy for controlling Asia’s pig pandemic; the corporate interests behind it, and the harmful effects this is having on Asia’s fragile rural livelihoods.

In this update to previous GRAIN reports on African swine fever, we look into China and Vietnam’s questionable strategy for controlling Asia’s pig pandemic; the corporate interests behind it, and the harmful effects this is having on Asia’s fragile rural livelihoods.

Private equity sharks take a bite out of the 'blue economy'

The concentration of the global fishing industry into the hands of elite private equity groups does not offer communities any solution to their struggles for livelihoods, food sovereignty and justice. With all the issues dogging the industry – from labour exploitation to vast environmental pollution – there is no chance that private equity firms will bring about the right changes.

The concentration of the global fishing industry into the hands of elite private equity groups does not offer communities any solution to their struggles for livelihoods, food sovereignty and justice. With all the issues dogging the industry – from labour exploitation to vast environmental pollution – there is no chance that private equity firms will bring about the right changes.

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil: 19 years is enough

We, and other organisations working with communities affected by industrial oil palm plantations, have repeatedly denounced the RSPO for its failure to address the grievances of communities whose lands were taken by palm oil companies. The fundamental problems with the institution and its certification scheme are described in detail in international statements signed by organisations from around the world in 2008 and in 2018, and recently in reports published in 2021 on the failure of RSPO to prevent deforestation, consult affected communities and address their grievances.

We, and other organisations working with communities affected by industrial oil palm plantations, have repeatedly denounced the RSPO for its failure to address the grievances of communities whose lands were taken by palm oil companies. The fundamental problems with the institution and its certification scheme are described in detail in international statements signed by organisations from around the world in 2008 and in 2018, and recently in reports published in 2021 on the failure of RSPO to prevent deforestation, consult affected communities and address their grievances.

Getting out of the food-energy-climate crisis

Today’s high prices for energy and food are intimately linked. But they are also intensely connected to how corporations exercise control over consumers, decision-makers and workers. Finding a way out of this “polycrisis” requires a deep transformation in how energy and food are produced and distributed, with actions that challenge corporate control head on.

Today’s high prices for energy and food are intimately linked. But they are also intensely connected to how corporations exercise control over consumers, decision-makers and workers. Finding a way out of this “polycrisis” requires a deep transformation in how energy and food are produced and distributed, with actions that challenge corporate control head on.