Against Food Security: On Forms of Care and Fields of Violence

This article addresses recent changes to the policy landscape on global food security. It argues that a new consensus is emerging on how to tackle (or more hubristically end) global hunger and spur agricultural development. The consensus I speak of is evident in recent briefings by the World Economic Forum (especially its New Vision for Agriculture), the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, initiated by the G-8 (now G-7), the Grow Africa network, the US government's Feed the Future programme, the philanthropy-led Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, not to mention the many flagship reports emanating from the international financial institutions as well as key statements from global food retailers and leading agribusinesses. The article argues that this new vision for global agriculture is deeply problematic. Indeed, the projected solutionsin so far as they aim to radically transform agricultural life, especially in Africamay well cause more harm than good. To put this argument more forcefully: what today is commonly called food security is perhaps better seen as a way of subjugating the poor under the pretence of doing them good.