Sie e , Ka he ine; Howa d, Philip H.; San Ma im Po es, Alexand e; Yamaoka,
Ma ina
A icle — Published Ve sion
"Na ional Champions" in Global Mea Supply Chains:
Implica ions o Go e nance and Co po a e Powe in Food
Sys ems
The Jou nal o Peasan S udies
P o ided in Coope a ion wi h:
The Bichle & Ni zan A chi es
Sugges ed Ci a ion: Sie e , Ka he ine; Howa d, Philip H.; San Ma im Po es, Alexand e; Yamaoka,
Ma ina (2025) : "Na ional Champions" in Global Mea Supply Chains: Implica ions o Go e nance
and Co po a e Powe in Food Sys ems, The Jou nal o Peasan S udies, ISSN 1743-9361, Taylo &
F ancis, London, Iss. La es A icles, pp. 1-27,
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‘Na ional champions’ in global mea supply chains:
implica ions o go e nance and co po a e powe in ood
sys ems
Ka he ine Sie e
a
, Philip H. Howa d
b
, Alexand e San Ma im Po es
c
and
Ma ina Yamaoka
d
a
Global Cen e o P e en i e Heal h and Nu i ion (GLOBE), Ins i u e o Heal h T ans o ma ion, School o
Heal h and Social De elopmen , Facul y o Heal h, Deakin Uni e si y, Geelong, Aus alia;
b
Depa men o
Communi y Sus ainabili y, Michigan S a e Uni e si y, Eas Lansing, MI, USA;
c
School o Regula ion and
Global Go e nance (RegNe ), The Aus alian Na ional Uni e si y, Canbe a, Aus alia;
d
In e disciplina y
Labo a o y o Science, Inno a ion and Socie y (LISIS), Uni e si é Gus a e Ei el, Champs-su -Ma ne, F ance
ABSTRACT
Na ional champion policies in BRICS coun ies pose challenges o
go e nance in global mea p ocessing ma ke s as hey inc ease
concen a ion, educe compe i ion and enhance co po a e powe
in ood sys ems. We in es iga e he deg ee o which hese shi s
bene i sponso ing go e nmen s and ci izens ela i e o
in e en ion le els. By analysing me ge s and acquisi ions
in ol ing hese i ms, we un eil coo dina ed g ow h s a egies
bene i ing p ima ily ansna ional capi alis in es o s. Ou indings
unde sco e he need o heigh ened sc u iny o na ional
champion me ge s and conside a ion o s onge in e na ional
an i us egula ion. Unde s anding he e ol ing co po a e powe
dynamics in mea supply chains is essen ial o imp o ed
ecological and social ou comes.
ARTICLE HISTORY
Recei ed 12 Ap il 2024
Accep ed 3 Feb ua y 2025
KEYWORDS
Na ional champions;
co po a e powe ; mea
supply chains; consolida ion;
sus ainable ood sys ems
In oduc ion
‘Na ional champion’ policies a e based on he a ionale ha go e nmen suppo o he
g ow h o leading i ms in s a egic sec o s will ad ance he in e es s o he na ion and
i s ci izens. In mea p ocessing indus ies, his has ca alysed he inc easing global domi-
nance o BRICS-headqua e ed i ms, pa icula ly hose om B azil and China. Ha e hese
changes bene i ed sponso ing go e nmen s o hei ci izens ela i e o he deg ee o in e -
en ion? We add ess his ques ion by analysing changes in i m bounda ies in ol ing he
wo ld’s la ges mea p ocesso s, and hei impac s, om a capi al as powe pe spec i e.
Al hough lax an i us en o cemen in many na ional ma ke s has con ibu ed o he
consolida ion o hund eds o p e iously dis inc i ms in o jus dozens, na ional champions
ha e gained signi ican addi ional ad an ages o e o he i ms. G ea e esou ces o
© 2025 The Au ho (s). Published by In o ma UK Limi ed, ading as Taylo & F ancis G oup
This is an Open Access a icle dis ibu ed unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion-NonComme cial-NoDe i a i es License
(h p://c ea i ecommons.o g/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which pe mi s non-comme cial e-use, dis ibu ion, and ep oduc ion in any
medium, p o ided he o iginal wo k is p ope ly ci ed, and is no al e ed, ans o med, o buil upon in any way. The e ms on which
his a icle has been published allow he pos ing o he Accep ed Manusc ip in a eposi o y by he au ho (s) o wi h hei consen .
CONTACT Ka he ine Sie e [email p o ec ed] Global Cen e o P e en i e Heal h and Nu i ion (GLOBE),
Ins i u e o Heal h T ans o ma ion, School o Heal h and Social De elopmen , Facul y o Heal h, Deakin Uni e si y,
Bu wood Highway, Bu wood, Vic o ia 3125, Aus alia
THE JOURNAL OF PEASANT STUDIES
h ps://doi.o g/10.1080/03066150.2025.2471084
acqui e o he leading i ms o key di isions wi hin hese i ms, o example, ha e enabled
he di e en ial po en ial o ‘buying’ a he han he slowe and iskie s a egy o ‘building’
g ow h, and ensu ed ha hey we e among he acqui e s a he han he acqui ed. Bound-
a ies be ween he la ges emaining mea p ocessing i ms ha e been u he blu ed by
da a sha ing schemes o coo dina e p oduc ion and p icing.
Ou analysis indica es ha dominan i m in e es s inc easingly align wi h suppo ing
ansna ional capi alis goals a he han na ional agendas, he e o e ci izens who paid o
na ional champions suppo s a e paying again wi h highe ood p ices and addi ional
nega i e consequences o popula ion and plane a y heal h. We he e o e sugges ha
e o s o e i alise an i us en o cemen should conside po en ial impac s ha
ex end beyond na ional bounda ies, and equi e much highe sc u iny o deals in ol ing
na ional champions.
Li e a u e e iew
Co po a e ag i- ood monopoly powe is in ensi ying globally, wi h mo e ecen con i-
bu ions om coun ies like China and B azil o e he las decades. B azil is p edic ed o
su pass he EU and he US as an ag icul u al expo e by 2030 and Sou h-Sou h ade
now accoun s o a qua e o o al ag icul u al lows (Bellmann, Lee, and Hepbu n 2019).
This shi in ag ibusiness powe is occu ing agains a backd op o wide geopoli ical
powe ansi ions, esul ing in a ma e ialising ‘mul ipola ’ ood egime (Jakobsen 2021).
Whe e US and Eu opean i ms ha e p e iously held expo powe in in e na ional ood
ade, his dominance is being e oded by eme ging playe s om B azil, A gen ina, China,
Russia, and Thailand (McMichael 2020). This phenomenon mi o s he b oade ise o
‘BRICS’ powe – B azil, Russia, India, China, Sou h A ica – in ade o manu ac u ed
goods and aw ma e ials globally. Fo ood sys ems, he p esence o he s a e in ma ke s
ep esen s a shi away om McMichael’s adi ional concep ualisa ion o he ‘Co po a e
Food Regime’ (McMichael 2013a), and sugges s he eme gence o neome can ilism (McMi-
chael 2013b), suppo ed by a ‘pos -democ a ic e a o inancial globalisa ion’ (S eeck 2016).
No ably, his shi is also qui e e iden in mea and soy p oduc ion, whe e p ominen
playe s om B azil and China ha e isen o p ominence o e he pas decade. Whe e US
i ms like Tyson Foods and Ca gill ha e his o ically occupied he op ankings in he global
mea supply, companies like JBS S.A. (B azil), WH G oup (China), and Ma ig (B azil) a e
now compe ing o , and in some cases, o e aking hese posi ions. The B azilian
company JBS S.A, o ins ance, p oduces 32 billion pounds o animal p oduc s pe yea
and is he la ges mea p oduce in he wo ld (Gelles 2023). A dis inc i e hallma k o
his ansi ion is he inc eased in ol emen o he s a e in he ope a ions o hese
i ms, pa icula ly as mea and soy ma ke s ha e been iden i ied as a s a egic sec o
o ensu ing economic s abili y ia ood expo s (P i cha d e al. 2016). While go e nmen
in es men aimed a suppo ing he mea indus y is no new, he deg ee o in ol emen
om he s a e in hese mo e ecen leading mea p ocesso s is decidedly g ea e and
mo e di ec . This policy app oach is o en e e ed o as na ional champions.
Na ional champions
Wi hin a na ional champion policy amewo k, go e nmen s elec ei he a sole o g oup o
co po a ions, o en in s a egic sec o s, o ad ance na ional in e es s (McMichael 2020).
2 K. SIEVERT ET AL.
This can be pa o a b oade economic app oach o p omo e speci ic indus ies and
enhance hei global s anding o na ional de elopmen (Sø ga d 2007). In B azil, o
ins ance, na ional champion policies ha e his o ically aimed a inc easing he in e -
na ional p esence o domes ic i ms, le e aging he coun y’s compa a i e ad an age
in sec o s like mea p oduc ion. This s a egy aligns wi h he b oade goal o boos ing
he economy h ough sec o al g ow h, simila o Sou h Ko ea’s app oach in he 1960s
and 1970s (Ricz and Schedelik 2023). Suppo o na ional champion i ms can ake
a ious o ms, including subsidies and s a e-sponso ed loans, he p omo ion o
me ge s, opposi ion o me ge s o a domes ic i m by o eign en e p ises, p e e en ial
access o land and esou ces, b oke ing pa ne ships wi h in es o s, and lowe ing o he
obs acles o inc eased ma ke g ow h (Ricz and Schedelik 2023; S ancke 2020). Impo -
an ly, he e m o ‘na ional champion’ ype policies can be lexibly applied o a ange
o s a e-in e en ions in ma ke s, and as such, i can some imes be unclea whe he a
i m is conside ed a ‘na ional champion’ by hei espec i e S a e. This ambigui y can
also eme ge when na ional champion policies a e con la ed wi h indus ial policies.
One key di e ence is ha na ional champion policies ocus on speci ic i ms and hei
g ow h s a egies, whe eas indus ial policy is a b oade amewo k encompassing a
ange o measu es o os e o e all coun y indus ial and economic de elopmen
(OECD Global Fo um on Compe i ion 2009). Na ional champion policies a e usually a
ea u e o a wide indus ial policy, bu no all indus ial policies a e na ional champion
policies. Ne e heless, he in en d i ing bo h app oaches is usually analogous: o
suppo i ms o become ‘leade s’ in a ma ke , i.e. o domina e. By enabling a i m’s mon-
opoly and s i ling ma ke compe i ion, na ional champion policies claim o boos econ-
omic anscendence o hei espec i e coun ies. Howe e , hey also lead o an a ay
o nega i e implica ions o compe i ion and public in e es conce ns (McMichael 2020).
The na u e and ex en o na ional champion policies can also a y by coun y. Fo
example, in China, na ional champion policies ha e been embedded as pa o hei
‘Bel and Road Ini ia i e’ (2013), an in as uc u e de elopmen s a egy aimed a gen-
e a ing g ea e global leade ship om China (Zhu 2018). The s a e-owned ood p oces-
sing i m, COFCO, is one such bene icia y. COFCO is now China’s la ges ood p ocesso ,
manu ac u e and ade and is a leading ag i- ood i m in Asia (Wesz, Esche , and Fa es
2021). Unde he supe ision o he S a e-owned Asse s Supe ision and Adminis a ion
Commission o he S a e Council – whose di ec i e is o p omo e domes ic and in e -
na ional me ge s and educe compe i ion – COFCO has ecei ed subs an ial capi al o
expand in o global ma ke s (Yele y 2020). Wi h hese sizable esou ces, COFCO was
able o make a se ies o s a egic acquisi ions and pene a e an al eady highly concen-
a ed global commodi y ading ma ke , pa icula ly soy and suga (Fa es 2023). Sub-
sequen ly, i o e ook he p e iously dominan ‘ABCD’ g ain ade s – A che Daniels
Midland, Bunge, Ca gill, and Louis D ey us –, leading o a es uc u ing o powe
ela ions a e a long US dominance in global soy and g ain ma ke s (Belesky and Law -
ence 2019). McMichael desc ibes his phenomenon as ‘ag o-secu i y me can ilism’ – i.e.
he d i e o he S a e in shaping ma ke s o gua an ee hei ood supply (McMichael
2013b). China also designa es ‘d agon head en e p ises’ as lead i ms and assis s
hem wi h he goals o indus ialising and consolida ing key ag ibusiness sec o s.
D agon heads may ake many o ganisa ion o ms, om a s a e-owned i m like
COFCO, a publicly aded co po a ion like WH G oup, o e en a wholly o eign owned
THE JOURNAL OF PEASANT STUDIES 3
en e p ise, and suppo may include subsidies, low o no-cos loans, and ax b eaks
(Schneide 2017).
In con as , B azil has suppo ed i s na ional champions ia p e e en ial loans unnelled
h ough he condui o he Na ional Bank o Economic and Social De elopmen (BNDES).
I s la ges mea p ocessing i ms (JBS, Ma ig and BRF-B asil Foods) abso bed almos wo
hi ds o he alloca ed na ional champion unds (Sha ma and Schlesinge 2017). These
i ms a e now some o he leading mea p ocessing conglome a es globally. In he B azi-
lian case, i is wo h highligh ing he p oximi y be ween he Na ional Bank, companies
and poli ics. BNDES has a s ong in luence on he in e na ionalisa ion o he domes ic
mea sec o h ough sha eholding pa icipa ion ha allows o signi ican capi alisa ion
o he companies. These, in u n, ha e o med ies wi h he go e nmen , making hem
s ongly ela ed o na ional pa y poli ics (Bispo 2023). While he aim o hese policies
has been o posi ion B azilian i ms as global leade s a he han shield hem om
o eign monopolies, hei geopoli ical alignmen wi h economic objec i es has gi en
hem signi ican ad an ages o e compe i o s (Ricz and Schedelik 2023). Howe e ,
while B azil’s na ional champion policies a e no pa o a coo dina ed in e na ional ini ia -
i e like China’s Bel and Road, bo h s a egies sha e he goal o expanding he global
each o hei domes ic i ms. China’s app oach cen es a ound building in as uc u e
and ade ou es o inc ease i s in luence ab oad, whe eas B azil ocuses on s eng hening
key indus ies, like mea p ocessing, o help hem succeed in in e na ional ma ke s (Wu
2024).
The expansion o na ional champion mea p ocesso s has con ibu ed o he de elop-
men o a symbio ic ela ionship be ween B azil and China known as he soy-mea -
complex (Esche and Wilkinson 2019). In he las decade, Chinese en e p ises ha e
in es ed USD 43 billion in o ag icul u al p oduc ion in e na ionally, acqui ing ope a ions
wi hin global soybean supply chains, mos no ably in B azil (GRAIN 2019). China has
become he p ima y des ina ion o B azil’s soy expo s and a majo consume o i s
mea p oduc s, wi h B azil expo ing 60% o i s mea o China (Ziolla Menezes 2023).
The s a egic in e dependence in hese key ag icul u al sec o s unde sco es he global
signi icance o hei economic collabo a ion and he web o connec ions shaping he con-
empo a y landscape o in e na ional ade and ood secu i y. US i ms ha e also ben-
e i ed om his alliance. Pa ke -Miglio ini In e na ional (PMI), a global mea dis ibu o ,
acili a ed he expo o USD 1.7 billion in bee om B azil, 95% o which was sen o
China (Cha kin 2023). PMI has been a majo acili a o o China’s inc eased consump ion
o bee , o he ex en ha i ope a es as a wholly o eign-owned en e p ise (WFOE) in
China – a s a us ha g an s educed legal and ope a ional ba ie s han hose aced by
mos o eign businesses a emp ing o do business in China (Ba y 2022).
The implica ions o high concen a ion in mea supply chains ha e been explo ed
ex ensi ely in p e ious li e a u e (Howa d 2019, 2017; Laza us, McDe mid, and Jacque
2021; Sie e e al. 2022). In ensi ying p oduc ion o mea esul s in de imen al
impac s o biodi e si y, wa e and land quali y, and inc eased g eenhouse gas emissions
(Cla k e al. 2022; Longo, Isg en, and Cla k 2021; Ri chie and Rose 2020), as well as con-
ibu ions o public heal h conce ns such as an imic obial esis ance, he de elopmen o
new zoono ic diseases, and he inc easing bu den o die - ela ed ch onic diseases (WHO
2023). C i ically, indus ial mea supply chains a e inhe en ly ha m ul o animal and social
wel a e (Schneide 2014). Fu he , as ecen e en s such as COVID-19 and he wa in
4 K. SIEVERT ET AL.
Uk aine ha e e ealed, highly cen alised supply chains a e ulne able o shocks and pose
isks o economic and ood secu i y (Hend ickson 2020, 2015; Yu e al. 2021).
Academic a en ion o he ha ms associa ed wi h co po a e concen a ion has g own
o e he ew las decades, pa icula ly in ela ion o hei impac on public heal h and he
en i onmen (Clapp 2018, 2021; Wood e al. 2021). In mo e ecen yea s, his a en ion has
been complemen ed by ha o go e nmen s and policymake s. Fo example, he US
Fede al T ade Commission and Depa men o Jus ice (FTC-DOJ) has o e seen a
enewed emphasis on an i us e o m, un eiling a se o 11 guidelines aimed a p ese -
ing compe i ion in me ge and acquisi ion (M&A) ansac ions in Decembe 2023 (FTC-
DOJ 2023). The guidelines a e unde pinned by he p emise ha me ge s can iola e
he law when hey con ibu e o he concen a ion o al eady highly consolida ed
ma ke s o subs an ially cu ail compe i ion. They ep esen a comp ehensi e e o o
add ess he p essing conce ns associa ed wi h heigh ened and excessi e co po a e
powe , in he pu sui o sa egua ding ma ke compe i ion, equi able access, and educe
he impac o high concen a ion on public in e es s. Howe e , how hese guidelines
migh a e in he con ex o globalised ma ke s and he inc eased p esence o s a e-
backed conglome a es is ye o be seen. Fu he , he conside a ion o capi al accumu-
la ion as a means o no only ma ke dominance bu expanding powe and in luence
in ood and socio-poli ical sys ems – i.e. capi al as powe – may be o e looked. Mea com-
panies ac i ely moni o de elopmen s in an i us and also y o ad ance hei in e es s
h ough lobbying. In Feb ua y 2023, o example, i was epo ed ha JBS had inc eased
he numbe o U.S. based lobbyis s de ending i s in e es s – om 12 o 15. This was he
la ges eam e e used by he company, wi h he main a ge s being ac i i ies ela ed o
ag icul u e, immig a ion – c ucial o i s wo k o ce – and an i us (Se i 2024).
‘Capi al as powe ’
Ou pape is unde pinned by he no ion ha he accumula ion o capi al by dominan
i ms is no me ely a ool o ma ke g ow h, bu also a means o acqui ing powe and
in luence – and hus he capaci y o shape egula o y and sociopoli ical en i onmen s,
o hei will. A icula ed by Ni zan and Bichle (2009), capi al as powe con ends ha
capi al is no ‘a na ow economic en i y, bu a symbolic quan i ica ion o powe ’
(Ni zan and Bichle 2009). Fo publicly aded i ms, ma ke capi alisa ion igu es can be
iewed as a consensus es ima e o powe – om he pe spec i e o capi alis in es o s
– hey quan i y expec a ions o a gi en i ms’ po en ial o shape and eshape socie y in
he u u e, while discoun ing o pe cei ed isks. In addi ion, powe is di e en ial, he e-
o e dominan i ms do no seek maximum a es o g ow h, bu g ow h ha is g ea e
ela i e o o he dominan i ms. Gigan ic mea packing i ms may ha e he capaci y o
inc ease hei powe di e en ially ia ci cum en ing na ional impo bans, inc easing
cap i e supplies and educing li es ock auc ions, and becoming a ca ego y cap ain
wi h he abili y o assign shel space o compe i o s a e aile s. Poli ically and socially,
hey may be able o in luence legisla i e change, shape egula o y en i onmen s,
eshape consume p e e ences and e ail accessibili y, and ul ima ely, main ain a a ou -
able s a us quo.
This aming may unde line he M&A s a egies o some la ge co po a ions. Buying
compe i o s is a quick way o bol on g ow h, a he han he ypically slowe s a egy
THE JOURNAL OF PEASANT STUDIES 5
o building o g owing in e nally. Acquisi ions ha e mul iple po en ial ad an ages o
inc easing di e en ial powe , such as educing he numbe o compe i o s and inc easing
he abili y o aise p ices (Fix 2023; Ni zan and Bichle 2009). B eaking h ough p e ious
owne ship ‘en elopes’ (Ni zan and Bichle 2009, p. 332) may also open new oppo uni ies
o g ow h ha we e p e iously cons ained by indus y bounda ies (e.g. o me ly
ups eam supplie s o downs eam cus ome s) o geog aphy (e.g. na ional bo de s). In
poli ical economic con ex s ha ha e enabled M&A s a egies, one esul has been a
end o indus y consolida ion – he numbe o i ms is con inually educed, as he
la ges o hese acqui e and me ge wi h each o he , and inc easing ba ie s hinde he
en ance o new compe i o s. Ano he po en ial consequence is g ea e le els o coo di-
na ion be ween he ewe and la ge emaining i ms, u he blu ing hei o ganisa ional
bounda ies.
‘Gin ummy’ manage ial beha iou , a concep popula ised by Wa en Bu e (Bu e
1983), o example, in ol es majo i ms engaging in asse swaps and di es i u es wi h
each o he . Dominan i ms o en seek o be numbe one o wo in sales o a gi en
ma ke and may sell asse s o subsidia ies in lowe -pe o ming di isions whe e hey
don’ hold a op- wo posi ion (Hanna o d 2007). This is exempli ied h ough he ade-
ma king o he mo o ‘segmen , concen a e, domina e’ by Tyson Foods (Bonanno and
Cons ance 2008). Whe e a gi en swap educes a i m’s p oduc i e capaci y o po en ial,
i may s ill esul in a highe o al ma ke capi alisa ion, e lec ing in es o expec a ions
o an inc ease in powe , and an abili y o eshape socie y o i s ad an age. No ably,
na ional champion i ms may ha e mo e lexibili y in employing ‘gin ummy’ s yle
g ow h s a egies due o he p esence o a s a e-sponso ed ‘sa e y ne ’, which cushions
hem om any po en ial associa ed isks. This s yle o g ow h s a egy also has po en ial
iscal bene i s o he o igin s a e, which has an espoused goal o assis ing hese i ms o
become dominan and educe compe i ion (Aga wal 2023).
To unde s and his new ag i- ood landscape in ela ion o mea packing i ms, he
cu en pape aims o explo e he ollowing ques ions;
1. How do co po a e g ow h s a egies compa e be ween mea packing i ms ha a e
na ional champion and hose wi hou subs an ial s a e suppo ?
2. How do hese g ow h s a egies in e sec wi h each o he ? Do na ional champion i ms
ha e mo e lexibili y o ‘gin ummy’ manage ial beha iou wi h a s a e-sponso ed
sa e y ne ?
3. Ha e hese changes bene i ed sponso ing go e nmen s o hei ci izens ela i e o
he deg ee o in e en ion?
Me hods
To answe hese ques ions, we conduc ed a comp ehensi e analysis o changes in i m
bounda ies among he op 25 global mea p ocesso s, conside ing: (a) owne ship
changes, wi h ocus on ‘gin ummy’ ansac ions be ween 2000 and 2023, (b) changes
in ma ke capi alisa ion igu es o publicly aded i ms du ing his same pe iod, (c)
cu en le els o common owne ship by ins i u ional in es o s, and (d) connec ions ia
da a sha ing schemes. We hen con ex ualised hese indings wi h poli ical economy
6 K. SIEVERT ET AL.
li e a u e o analyse a ious ad an ages gained ia na ional policy di e ences and he
esul ing impac s associa ed wi h hem.
Da a o me ge s and acquisi ions we e sou ced om wo p ima y da abases: 1)
Thomson Reu e ’s SDC M&A da abase (Thomson Reu e s 2023); 2) P i CO (P i Co 2023);
and hen b anching sea ches o p ess eleases and ade jou nals we e conduc ed ia
keywo d sea ches. T ansac ions we e iangula ed ac oss da abases o e i ica ion. ‘Gin
ummy’ ansac ions we e hen iden i ied, wi h a de ini ion o owne ship as mo e han
50% equi y o he selling o acqui ing i m. Addi ional sea ches o ade jou nals, p ess
eleases and media a icles we e conduc ed o analyse how hese acquisi ions we e
amed by he i ms and news media. Ma ke capi alisa ion igu es o publicly aded
i ms we e ob ained p ima ily om he websi e h ps://companies.ma ke cap.com, and
ins i u ional owne ship pe cen ages we e collec ed om LSEG Wo kspace ( o me ly
Re ini i ). Connec ions in ol ing da a sha ing schemes we e acqui ed om he US Depa -
men o Jus ice complain agains Ag i S a s Inc. (2023), and ne wo k da a isualisa ions
we e c ea ed wi h OmniG a le.
Resul s
Examining me ge s and acquisi ions among he 25 mos dominan mea packing i ms
(de ined as mo e han USD 3 billion in annual sales in 2022), wo key ends we e
obse ed. Fi s ly, almos all dominan i ms ha e been ac i ely engaging in ansac ions
ha in ol e he sale o di isions o o he op 25 i ms (see acquisi ions highligh ed in
ed in Figu e 1). Fo example, Tyson Foods pa icipa ed in a se ies o sales o i s La in
Ame ican di isions be ween 2014-2016. Tyson sold uni s in Mexico and B azil o JBS, Pil-
g im’s P ide (o e 75% owned by JBS), and OSI G oup in a s a egic mo e o je ison i s
lowe pe o ming di isions. CEO Donnie Smi h epo edly old analys s ha while he
Mexican and B azilian businesses ‘we e ce ainly good and p o i able o Tyson Foods,
hey did no ha e he necessa y scale o gain leading sha e posi ions’ (Jones 2020).
These sales allowed Tyson o ins ead ocus on g owing i s dominance in Asian mea
ma ke s.
Secondly, some na ional champions we e engaging wi h his g ow h s a egy mo e so
han incumben i ms. JBS and WH G oup, in pa icula , ha e displayed a p ocli i y o ‘gin
ummy’ ype acquisi ions. Fo example, Sea a – a B azilian ood p ocessing company – has
unde gone nume ous owne ship changes o e he pas ew decades. I was bough i s
by Ce al in 1980, hen by Bunge in 1997, by Ca gill in 2004, Ma ig in 2009, and inally, by
JBS in 2013. Each ime, Sea a was sold a a highe p ice o he nex bidde . The 2013 pu -
chase by JBS was amed as assis ing hem o su pass Tyson Foods Inc. as numbe 1 in he
global poul y ma ke , despi e he pu chase occu ing on op o JBS’ BRL 21.2 billion
(∼USD 9.9 billion) in deb (Mea +Poul y 2013). This ype o b azen buyou , aking
place in he con ex o high deb , demons a es ha conce ns ha would o dina ily be
a ba ie o pu chase o a adi ional i m, a e no conce ns o na ional champions –
who a e suppo ed by a a ie y o s a e-backed p o ec ions. BNDES, o ins ance, con-
side ed he deal be ween JBS and Ma ig o be posi i e (Época Negócios 2013) bu i
was ecei ed wi h cau ion by he ma ke , which was conce ned abou he company’s
inc eased le els o deb , leading i s sha es o su e hei wo s all in six mon hs on he
THE JOURNAL OF PEASANT STUDIES 7
Bo espa (B azilian S ock Exchange). Moody’s a ing agency pu i s a ing unde e iew o
possible downg ade a ha ime (Gomes 2013).
Ano he example in ol es he Chinese i m, Shuanghui (now WH G oup), which
acqui ed Smi h ield in 2013 o USD 7.08 billion. Smi h ield had p e iously made gin
ummy acquisi ions (a packaged mea s uni om ConAg a, Cook’s Ham om ConAg a,
and he Eu opean mea s uni om Sa a Lee) be o e i was ully acqui ed by a much
smalle i m – he deal was he la ges e e acquisi ion o a US i m by a Chinese i m.
Shuanghui, which was also he majo i y sha eholde in China’s la ges mea p ocessing
i m, Henan Shuanghui In es men and De elopmen Co., ou bid o he na ional cham-
pion i ms such as JBS and Cha oen Pokphand Foods by paying a 30.9% p emium o e
Smi h ield’s ading p ice (Chen, Chan, and C addock 2021). A he ime, Smi h ield had
been epo ing declining e enues, bu he acquisi ion ep esen ed an oppo uni y o
Shuanghui o become he op po k p ocesso in he U.S. ma ke , and hi d in global
Figu e 1 Owne ship changes in ol ing he 25 mos dominan global mea p ocesso s, 2000 o 2023.
8 K. SIEVERT ET AL.
been in ol ed in ax a oidance in 2017, and again in 2019 (De i and Polina 2019),
including unnelling USD 5 million o a ax ha en in Cyp us (Feed S a egy 2017).
Repo s indica ed ha ha Che kizo o execu i es u ilised illegal o sho e schemes o
pay di idends o a Cyp io sha eholde , gi ing Che kizo o a educed ax a e o 5
pe cen ins ead o he manda ed 15 pe cen (Feed S a egy 2017). Di e ing capi al
and p o i s in o ax ha ens educes con ibu ions made o domes ic ax e enue,
meaning ha ins ead o suppo ing public se ices and na ional de elopmen , hese
p o i s p ima ily se e co po a e in e es s and sha eholde s, ul ima ely lea ing ci izens
wi h ewe bene i s om he go e nmen ’s suppo o hese i ms.
As hese i ms g ow and expand hei ope a ions, ins ances o une hical business p ac-
ices, such as p ice ixing and co up ion, ha e been unco e ed. In addi ion o he Ag i
S a s case no ed abo e, ano he da a sha ing se ice, WMS, along wi h Ca gill, Sande son
Fa ms and Wayne Fa ms, we e ined USD 84.8 million o allegedly conspi ing o ix
poul y p ocessing employee wages and bene i s in 2022 (U.S. O ice o Public A ai s
2022). Ano he scheme, o es ic supplies o poul y b eeding s ock and aise p ices
o p oduce s, was unco e ed by egula o s in Zambia in 2018, and he ou leading
i ms we e assessed ines (Goga and Robe s 2023; S empel 2022; Uni ed S a es Dis ic
Cou o he Dis ic o Minneso a 2023). These inciden s u he unde sco e he shi
in ocus and p io i ies ha i ms unde go as hey inc ease ma ke dominance wi h hei
in e es s p ima ily aligning wi h hei own co po a e objec i es (such as educing p o-
duc ion le els as hey p oclaim hey a e eeding he popula ions in hei ma ke a eas)
a he han con ibu ing o he b oade na ional economy o bene i ing ci izens.
Va ie ies o na ional champion policies in di e se poli ical economies
The di e ences in i m beha iou ex end beyond he na ional champion policies hem-
sel es and e lec he a ying poli ical economy con ex s ha su ound hem. Na ional
policies o suppo i m compe i i eness a e dependen on aspec s like he a ious
na u al esou ces o he coun y, p e-exis ing subsidy p og ammes, expo capaci y,
and a ac i eness o in es o s. In he case o B azil, go e nmen subsidies o bo h
soybean and mea p oduc ion ha e gi en a double ad an age o i ms like JBS, BRF,
Mine a, and Ma ig (Howa d 2019).
The choice o soybean and mea p oduc ion i ms as a a ge o he B azilian indus ial
policy a e 2003 was based on he commodi ies boom ha apidly ans o med he B a-
zilian economy (Kup e , Fe az, and Ma ques 2013). As a commodi ies expo e , B azil
unde wen a pe iod o as g ow h be ween 2004 and 2010
1
, d i en by he ise in he
p ice o commodi ies. B azilian indus ies we e in e na ionally compe i i e in his econ-
omic scena io, and he go e nmen iden i ied a po en ial o expand hese i ms’ ac i i ies
o le e age he B azilian indus y and in e na ional economic ele ance (Almeida, Lima-
de-Oli ei a, and Ross Schneide 2018). The e o e, subsidies om BNDES suppo ed
na ional champion g ow h wi hin B azil and hei global expansion in o u he
ma ke s, especially du ing 2008–2010 (pe iod o he Policy o P oduc i e De elopmen
– indus ial policy) (Ocampo and Po cile 2020). To illus a e, om 2001 o 2008, BNDES
1
While be ween 2004 and 2010, he G oss Domes ic P oduc (GDP) o he B azilian economy g ew om 5.8% o 7.5%,
be ween 2011 and 2015, i declined om 3.9% o – 3.8%.
THE JOURNAL OF PEASANT STUDIES 15
disbu sed an a e age o R$112.0 billion pe yea , ising o R$231.2 billion be ween 2009
and 2013. BNDES also played an impo an ole in inancing ag ibusiness.
The onse o an economic ecession in 2014, howe e , ma ked a u ning poin in his
a ou able economic scena io, hal ing he massi e in es men s in na ional champions.
The sho -li ed indus ial policy was s ongly c i icised o being p ima ily d i en by pol-
i ical p essu es a he han na ional in e es s. In addi ion, he e is no e idence ha he
B azilian economy bene i ed om he subs an ial in es men s du ing ha pe iod, since
hey did no gene a e signi ican indus ial p og ess in he coun y no add ess echno-
logical gaps (Ocampo and Po cile 2020; Ricz and Schedelik 2023). Objec i es such as
inc easing expo s, in es men expansion, inc easing added alue and inc easing he edu-
ca ion o wo ke s we e no achie ed (S umm, Nunes, and Pe issino o 2019). In addi ion o
his nega i e balance, he p oposed ac ions did no change B azil’s indus ial s uc u e
be ween 2003-2011, wi h p oduc ion, jobs and impo s emaining unchanged bo h
om he implemen a ion o indus ial policy and in subsequen pe iods. The sha pes
d op in expo s, which ell by 20% in he pe iod, unde sco ed he ailu e o Lula’s indus ial
policies o add ess deindus ialisa ion (S umm, Nunes, and Pe issino o 2019).
In ac , na ional champion policies in B azil no only ailed o gene a e e u ns on
in es men , bu also became emb oiled in a se ies o domes ic scandals. In 2017, he B a-
zilian Fede al Police led he ‘Ca ne F aca Ope a ion’, un eiling a la ge co up ion scheme
whe e he mea indus y (JBS in pa icula ) had been b ibing he go e nmen o access o
capi al in p i ileged condi ions ia BNDES. The in es iga ion also ound ha he mea
indus y was selling expi ed mea o B azilian consume s (No aes 2017). The co up ion
scandal exace ba ed he economic c isis, des abilising bo h he na ional economy and
ai h in poli ical ins i u ions. I is also wo h highligh ing ha Ca ne F aca Ope a ion ol-
lowed he La a Ja o (Ope a ion Ca Wash, 2014)
2
, which had al eady unse led B azil’s
economy, as well as poli ical and business sec o s (Almeida, Lima-de-Oli ei a, and Ross
Schneide 2018). Despi e nega i e in e na ional epe cussions hese i ms con inued pu -
suing acquisi ions. Fo example, a e ag eeing o a 3.2 billion USD ine, JBS sold a ious
di isions o aise he cash. This included a majo ansac ion: selling Moy Pa k o a i m
al eady majo i y-owned by JBS, Pilg im’s P ide (Teixei a 2019).
The endu ing in luence o JBS is e iden in a ious ins ances o poli ical excep ionalism.
Fo example, a ecen B azilian Sup eme Cou jus ice suspended 2.1 billion USD in ines
le ied agains he i m o b ibe y (B i o 2023). Despi e i s in ol emen wi h an a ay o
co up ion scandals, i s epu a ion appea s una ec ed. In 2017, he Ba is a b o he s,
p ima y sha eholde s o JBS, signed a plea ba gain wi h he Fede al Police ela ed o Ope -
ação La a Ja o. In May o ha yea , hey accused o me B azilian p esiden Michel Teme
(PMDB) o acili a ing a R$500,000 paymen o o me ede al depu y Edua do Cunha
(PMDB-RJ) o p e en disclosu e o in o ma ion ega ding Ope a ion Ca Wash. A yea
and a hal a e hese allega ions, JBS sha eholde s ha e seen an inc ease in ma ke
alue o R$2.5 billion. Today, he company is alued a almos R$32 billion, 23% highe
han in May 2017 (Sca amuzzo 2018), despi e he Ba is a b o he s se ing b ie p ison sen-
ences and being empo a ily emo ed om hei posi ions a JBS. In Feb ua y 2024, hey
2
The La a Ja o scandal, o Ope a ion Ca Wash, was a widesp ead co up ion in es iga ion ha began in B azil in 2014,
ini ially ocusing on co up ion and money launde ing wi hin s a e-con olled oil company Pe ob as bu expanded o
e eal a ne wo k o co up ion in ol ing cons uc ion companies, poli icians, and illegal campaign con ibu ions, esul -
ing in signi ican poli ical and economic consequences and p omp ing calls o sys emic e o ms.
16 K. SIEVERT ET AL.
we e eins a ed and g an ed posi ions on he Boa d o Di ec o s o Pilg im’s P ide,
making hem he wo la ges sha eholde s o he company ia hei con olling in e es
in JBS (G abe 2024).
The ising powe o na ional champions is no me ely a co po a e powe phenomenon
bu is suppo ed and enabled by he wide ins i u ional and geopoli ical si ua ions in
which hey a ise. This ansi ion in ol es na ion-s a es e ol ing in o p oac i e ins umen s
o global capi alism, aligning wi h he in e es s o he ansna ional capi alis class and i s
poli ical agen s and allies (Robinson and Sp ague 2018). The s a egic in es men s by
o eign en i ies, such as Saudi A abia’s SALIC in B azilian na ional champions (no ed
abo e), u he illus a e he global in e connec ions in main aining ood secu i y.
Thinking global: i - o -pu pose an i us and compe i ion policy
The abo e sec ions emphasise he mo e globalised landscape o mea supply chains,
e ealing a need o ailo ed policy measu es o ackle high co po a e concen a ion,
now exace ba ed by he subs an ial in luence o na ional champions. The FTC-DOJ
me ge guidelines deno e a shi owa d a mo e mode n concep ualisa ion o he ole
o compe i ion policy by highligh ing he need o policies o add ess unchecked concen-
a ion. Howe e , a signi ican blind spo in he d a guidelines is he lack o a en ion o
he impac s o acquisi ions ou side o US ma ke s. This calls o mo e nuance and coo di-
na ion in p oposed policy esponses. Clea ly, deals in ol ing na ional champions equi e
much mo e sc u iny as coun ies like B azil and China ha e a p onounced objec i e o
assis hese i ms o become dominan and educe compe i ion.
An i us laws in coun ies like B azil and China could mi iga e he isks posed by
Na ional Champion i ms by enhancing egula o y mechanisms ha mo e s ic ly
moni o me ge s, especially when such i ms achie e dominan posi ions. Fo example,
unde B azil’s ‘ ule o eason’, me ge s can p oceed i hey demons a e economic e icien-
cies, bu hese e iciencies mus explici ly bene i consume s (Teixei a 2011). Consume
in e es s in his con ex a e la gely de ined wi hin he ‘consume wel a e’ amewo k –
i.e. keeping consume p ices low. Howe e , his could be expanded o include b oade
public in e es es s, inco po a ing social and en i onmen al impac s, labou igh s, and
animal wel a e.
Such public in e es es s ha e been es ablished in coun ies like Sou h A ica and
o he ju isdic ions, whe eby public in e es c i e ia a e an included dimension in an i us
decisions (Angumu hoo, Lo e , and Wood 2020). In he con ex o Sou h A ica, hese c i-
e ia pe ain mos ly o employmen and impac s o his o ically disad an aged popu-
la ions, bu coun ies could expand his o a wide ange o public in e es
conside a ions, pa icula ly when me ge s impac sec o s c i ical o public heal h,
equi y and en i onmen al sus ainabili y (Wood e al. 2024). In he case o B azil, his
could look like ensu ing ha he Adminis a i e Council o Economic De ense (CADE)
e alua es no jus economic ou comes, bu also socio-en i onmen al ones, he eby balan-
cing suppo o domes ic champions wi h sa egua ds agains domes ic and global con-
solida ion ha nega i ely a ec public heal h, wo ke igh s, and en i onmen al and
animal wel a e s anda ds. Addi ionally, pos -me ge moni o ing and compliance en o ce-
men could p e en i ms om abusing hei dominan posi ions. Howe e , he e is a limi
THE JOURNAL OF PEASANT STUDIES 17
o he capaci y o na ional-le el ocused compe i ion policies o add ess hese conce ns
on a global scale.
The e exis s al eady some ecogni ion o he need o mode nise compe i ion policies,
al hough how hese a e ad anced in di e en coun ies and con ex s emains unde
deba e and in ol es highly echnical conside a ions. As desc ibed abo e, mo emen s
o expand he ‘consume wel a e’ concep om solely ocusing on low p ices ha e
g own in popula i y, inc easingly d i en by public in e es conce ns (Meaghe 2020).
An example o his ideological shi in p ac ice is he mos ecen opposi ion o he
me ge be ween supe ma ke gian s K oge and Albe sons by he US FTC, ci ing po en-
ial ad e se e ec s o labou unions and g oce y wo ke wages as hei heo ies o ha m
(Dayen and Golds ein 2024). C i ically, e o m aimed a add essing he inequali ies in o-
duced by na ional champions will equi e democ a ically in o med and con ex -speci ic
policies o e lec unique poli ical economies. While compe i ion policy in mos ju isdic-
ions is shaped by compa able neolibe al o na ionalis discou se, con ex -speci ic e i a-
lisa ion will be equi ed gi en hey a e also shaped, o some ex en , by socio-poli ical
discou ses (Newman 2021; Wood e al. 2024).
A he global le el, p oposals such as a global ea y on compe i ion (adminis e ed by a
mul i-la e al body like he Uni ed Na ions) may be necessa y o c oss-bo de o e sigh o
la ge-scale me ge s. This would allow o he assessmen o he impac s o high concen a ion
ac oss a ange o issues beyond con en ional conce ns o p ice, o include issues such as con-
solida ed powe as well as en i onmen al impac s, a me li elihoods, and animal wel a e
(Mooney 2017). Mo e ex ensi e indica o s o concen a ion would be equi ed in his
se ing, accoun ing o he isks o consolida ed powe and poli ical in luence. This ype o
e o can build upon exis ing amewo ks such as he Uni ed Na ions Con e ence on
T ade and De elopmen (UNCTAD) Model Law on Compe i ion Policy and he Se o Mul i-
la e ally Ag eed Equi able Con ol o Res ic i e Business P ac ices (UNCTAD 2015).
Howe e , global compe i ion policies may disp opo iona ely a ou economically
powe ul na ions, leading o an imbalance in en o cemen and compliance. Any global
compe i ion ea y should be de eloped h ough inclusi e and anspa en p ocesses, con-
side ing he di e se needs and capaci ies o bo h he global No h and Sou h. I should also
allow o lexibili y in implemen a ion o accommoda e he unique economic ci cums ances
o low- and middle-income coun ies. Ye , such ini ia i es will likely ely on domes ic go -
e nmen s o en o cemen , aising conce ns abou capaci y and co up ion. Simila ly,
add essing heal h and en i onmen al issues hinges on he s eng h o na ional egula o y
sys ems, which o en ace limi a ions. Coo dina ed global e o s, including campaigns
wi hin Uni ed Na ions o ums, mus ad oca e o disman ling subsidies and p ac ices
ha p omo e concen a ion in he global mea indus y while add essing he indus y’s
con ibu ions o en i onmen al deg ada ion, exploi a ion in supply chains, and displace-
men o Indigenous peoples. Raising public awa eness o hese co po a e go e nance
issues will be c i ical o d i ing poli ical will and ini ia ing egula o y e o ms ha p io i ise
he well-being o popula ions and he en i onmen o e co po a e powe .
Fu u e esea ch
While his pape ocuses on he ad an ages con e ed by na ional champion policies, we
acknowledge he impo ance o examining he compe i i e ad an ages and
18 K. SIEVERT ET AL.
disad an ages aced by i ms om coun ies wi hou such s a e suppo . Fu u e esea ch
should explo e how companies in hese la e con ex s, including hose om he U.S., he
EU, o o he eme ging ma ke s, may le e age di e en s a egies, such as echnological
inno a ion, p i a e inancing, o global supply chain in eg a ion, o compe e wi h na ional
champions om China and B azil. Such compa a i e s udies would p o ide a mo e com-
p ehensi e unde s anding o he dynamics shaping he global co po a e-indus ial mea
indus y.
Fu u e esea ch could also p io i ise unco e ing he hidden dis o ions caused by co -
po a e lobbying e o s, including he alloca ion o esou ces o in luence legisla o s
h ough campaign inancing. De ailed in es iga ions a e necessa y o expose he scope
o hese p ac ices, which o en enable la ge co po a ions o secu e a ou able policies,
u he consolida ing hei ma ke dominance. Howe e , o e ec i ely add ess hese
issues, go e nmen s mus enhance anspa ency and educe he p o ec ion o ‘con iden-
ial’ business in o ma ion. Wi hou measu es such as wi e ap in es iga ions, as seen in he
JBS b ibe y case (do Nascimen o Fe ei a Ba os, Rod igues, and Panhoca 2019), key
d i e s o co po a e dominance may con inue o emain hidden. While no o ally easible
o in he emi o academics o unco e illegal ac i i ies such as p ice- ixing, dumping,
and collusion wi h na ional go e nmen s, hese s a egies do c ea e di e en ial ad an-
ages ha me i u he sc u iny and policy in e en ion.
Based on hese indings, he cu en capi alis de elopmen model d i ing he exces-
si e concen a ion o mea p oduc ion in majo expo ing coun ies equi es u he c i-
ique. This monopolis ic co po a e egime, ma ked by ex ac i ism and unsus ainable
p ac ices, poses signi ican isks, pa icula ly o popula ions in he global Sou h. Fu u e
esea ch mus del e deepe in o he d awbacks o his co po a e go e nance model,
which is o en sus ained by s a e suppo and lobbying e o s ha dis o co po a e
ad an ages and exace ba e inequali ies.
Conclusion
This s udy examines he e ol ing landscape o al eady highly concen a ed global mea
supply chains, wi h a ocus on he eme gence o na ional champion i ms. Gi en he
s a ed aims o hese i ms and hei espec i e S a es is o educe compe i ion and gain
powe in ood sys ems, he e is an u gen need o mo e obus policy esponses. We
obse e agg essi e acquisi ion s a egies by na ional champion mea p ocesso s (in he
s yle o ‘gin ummy’ manage ial beha iou s), no ably in i ms like JBS, uelled by s a e-
backed suppo . Ou analysis also e eals ha na ional champion policy schemes o en
yield a mo e a ou able e u n on in es men o he in ol ed i ms han o go e nmen s
despi e na ional de elopmen banks suppo ing hem/being majo sha eholde s. This is
exempli ied by nume ous allega ions o co up ion, p ice ixing, and ax a oidance
le elled agains he majo i y o na ional champion i ms. Fu he , he inc easing in ol e-
men o ins i u ional in es o s in na ional champion i ms aise conce ns abou added
incen i es o indus y consolida ion and an i-compe i i e beha iou s.
Add essing he challenges posed by hese en i ies equi es no only domes ic
measu es bu also a b oade in e na ional pe spec i e, encompassing an i us e i alisa-
ion and subsidy disman ling. The pi o al ole o co po a e powe dynamics in shaping
he ajec o y o ood sys ems emphasises he impe a i e o in o med and decisi e
THE JOURNAL OF PEASANT STUDIES 19
policy in e en ions o os e ansi ions owa ds heal hie , sus ainable, and jus ood
sys ems.
This analysis o na ional champion mea companies o e s c i ical insigh s in o he shi -
ing dynamics o global ood poli ics. As BRICS coun ies – pa icula ly B azil and China –
ise in p ominence wi hin he global ood sys em, hese i ms no only e lec hei
espec i e s a es’ geopoli ical s a egies bu also signal a econ igu a ion o economic
powe in global ood egimes. S a e-backed mea p ocesso i ms a e inc easingly ou -
g owing adi ional ma ke leade s in ood sys ems long domina ed by Wes e n co po -
a ions, ma king a signi ican shi in who holds powe and whom hese ood sys ems
se e. This end poin s o a b oade ealignmen in he global poli ical economy,
whe e na ional policies and co po a e s a egies eshape ma ke s in unsus ainable and
ex ac i e ways. These de elopmen s aise impo an ques ions abou u u e go e nance
o ood sys ems, wi h ongoing heal h, equi y, and en i onmen al challenges emaining
unadd essed. Th ough he applica ion o Capi al as Powe , his s udy con ibu es o ou
unde s anding o how economic powe and s a e-backed co po a e s a egies can
shape global ood egimes. These indings a e imely and poli ically signi ican as we
g apple wi h he implica ions o such concen a ed powe o ood so e eign y, equi y,
and sus ainabili y in he global Sou h and beyond.
Au ho ship
PHH and KS designed he s udy. KS and PHH collec ed he da a. PHH and KS analysed he
da a wi h inpu om ASMP and MY. KS led he d a ing o he manusc ip wi h inpu and
c i ical e iews om PHH, ASMP, and MY.
All au ho s we e in ol ed in e iewing he manusc ip and app o e his e sion.
‘Na ional champions’ in global mea supply chains: implica ions o go e nance and
co po a e powe in ood sys ems
Disclosu e s a emen
KS is a ecipien o an Al ed Deakin Pos doc o al Resea ch Fellowship. KS has p e iously ecei ed
unding om he Wo ld Heal h O ganiza ion on he opic o ed and p ocessed mea o popula ion
and plane a y heal h (2022-2023). The Wo ld Heal h O ganiza ion had no in ol emen in he cu en
s udy. PHH is a membe o he In e na ional Panel o Expe s on Sus ainable Food Sys ems.
No es on con ibu o s
Ka e Sie e is an Al ed Deakin Pos doc o al Resea ch Fellow wi h he Global Cen e o P e en i e
Heal h and Nu i ion (GLOBE), Deakin Uni e si y in Melbou ne, Aus alia. She ecei ed he PhD om
Deakin Uni e si y, examining he poli ical economy o ed and p ocessed mea educ ion globally
o heal hy and sus ainable ood sys ems. She also holds a Bachelo o A s (Philosophy) and a
Mas e o Public Heal h om Monash Uni e si y. Ka e has wo ked in esea ch a eas including unde -
s anding he poli ics and poli ical economy o he global ood sys em and examining he ole o
powe and in luence in policymaking in domains such as ul a-p ocessed oods and in an
o mula in Aus alia and on a global le el. She is P esiden and Co- ounde o he ad ocacy o gan-
isa ion, Heal hy Food Sys ems Aus alia. In addi ion, she has wo ked in policy w i ing, including
de eloping and d a ing posi ion s a emen s, policy b ie s and echnical pape s o he Wo ld
Heal h O ganiza ion in Gene a and he Public Heal h Associa ion o Aus alia.
20 K. SIEVERT ET AL.
Philip H. Howa d is a p o esso in he Depa men o Communi y Sus ainabili y a Michigan S a e
Uni e si y, USA and a membe o he In e na ional Panel o Expe s on Sus ainable Food Sys ems
(iPES-Food). He has analyzed and isualised inc easing consolida ion in nume ous indus ies, includ-
ing p ocessed o ganic oods, bee , mea , dai y, comme cial seeds, dis ibu ion and e ailing. He is
he au ho o Concen a ion and Powe in he Food Sys em: Who Con ols Wha We Ea ? (2016,
2021 Bloomsbu y Academic), and holds a PhD in Ru al Sociology om he Uni e si y o Missou i.
Alexand e San Ma im Po es is a PhD Schola and Resea ch O ice a he Aus alian Na ional Uni-
e si y’s School o Regula ion and Global Go e nance. His PhD hesis ocuses on he implemen-
a ion o TRIPS-plus pa en p o ec ion in selec ed La in Ame ican coun ies and sus ainable
de elopmen policies. He is an in e disciplina y esea che who s udies in e na ional poli ical
economy, in ellec ual p ope y igh s, ade law, clima e change, public heal h, sus ainabili y, and
mixed-me hods esea ch. He is in e es ed in how ade ag eemen s a ec de eloping coun ies’
capaci y o design public policy and how eme ging o ms o domes ic egula ion a ec in e -
na ional ade.
Ma ina Yamaoka is a Poli ical Science Ph.D. s uden en olled a Uni e si é Gus a e Ei el. He doc-
o al esea ch looks in o he disman ling and e-composi ion o ag oecological public policies in
B azil. She is a esea che a GPP/Esalq/USP (a public policy g oup e alua ing, p oposing and moni-
o ing public policies a he in e ace be ween ag icul u e, he en i onmen and socie y in B azil).
She also has p o essional expe ience wo king wi h social and en i onmen al issues o non-p o i
o ganisa ions in di e en oles, and she holds an MSc in In e na ional De elopmen wi h a ocus
on ood sys ems.
ORCID
Ka he ine Sie e h p://o cid.o g/0000-0003-4617-8034
Philip H. Howa d h p://o cid.o g/0000-0002-1696-8206
Alexand e San Ma im Po es h p://o cid.o g/0000-0002-7177-7947
Ma ina Yamaoka h p://o cid.o g/0000-0002-4470-3838
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