Agribusiness and Society : Corporate Responses to Environmentalism, Market Opportunities and Public Regulation

“This volume examines how far agribusiness corporations are responding to the opportunities and pressures resulting from emerging environmental awareness. In particular, in what ways are they changing their R & D and business practices in order to develop new environmentally oriented products, services and methods of production? And what can they change of their own volition, and where is external direction a necessary condition of environmentally friendly innovation? These questions are explored through investigations of particular biotech and agribusiness companies – including Monsanto, Ciba Geigy, Dole, and Chiquita – and their behavior in situations as diverse as California, Europe, Australia, Brazil, and Central America. The volume explores how some have responded to environmental pressures by exploiting new consumer-created markets; some changed their production practices in a sustainable way; while others have complied with (or resisted) state environmental regulation, notably labelling systems and certification. Each study explores how institutional, cultural, economic, political and technological contexts shape the strategies of big business. Topics include ‘green bananas’, genetically modified tomatoes and soy, the new markets in organic produce, health and pesticides, and access to justice. The book explains why some corporations are successful in introducing environmentally friendly innovations, and others are not. The key to understanding contrasting outcomes is examining the interaction between internal corporate environments where profit and efficiency considerations predominate, and external environments where consumer preferences, NGO pressures and government regulation are important. The book also explores possible new roles for the public sector. The result is a sophisticated and critical analysis of business practices and regulatory systems in the agro-food sector.” Annotation This Volume Examines In Detail How Far Agribusiness Corporations Are Responding To The Opportunities And Pressures Resulting From Emerging Environmental Awareness, To Play Their Part In The Greening Of Agriculture And Food. In Particular, In What Ways Are These Corporations Changing Their R & D And Business Practices In Order To Develop New Environmentally Oriented Products, Services And Methods Of Production? And What Can They Change Of Their Own Volition, And Where Is External Direction A Necessary Condition Of Environmentally Friendly Innovation? These Questions Are Explored Through A Series Of Highly Original Investigations Of Particular Biotech And Other Agribusiness Companies--including Monsanto, Ciba Geigy, Dole, And Chiquita--and Their Behavior In Particular Parts Of The World, Including California, Europe, Australia, Brazil, And Central America. Agribusiness And Environmentalism : The Politics Of Technology Innovation And Regulation / Kees Jansen And Sietze Vellema -- Reconciling Shareholders, Stakeholders And Managers : Experiencing The Ciba-geigy Vision For Sustainable Development / William Vorley -- Monsanto Facing Uncertain Futures : Immobile Artefacts, Financial Constraints And Public Acceptance Of Technological Change / Sietze Vellema -- The Appearance And Disappearance Of The Gm Tomato : Innovation Strategy, Market Formation And The Shaping Of Demand / Mark Harvey -- Contrasting Paths Of Corporate Greening In Antipodean Agriculture : Organics And Green Production / Kristin Lyons [and Others] -- Room For Manoeuvre? : (in)organic Agribusiness In California / Julie Guthman -- Greening Bananas And Institutionalizing Environmentalism : Self-regulation By Fruit Corporations / Kees Jansen -- The Dbcp Pesticide Cases : Seeking Access To Justice To Make Agribusiness Accountable In The Global Economy / Erika Rosenthal -- Business And Biotechnology : Regulation Of Gm Crops And The Politics Of Influence / Dominic Glover And Peter Newell -- Social Struggles And The Regulation Of Transgenic Crops In Brazil / Victor Pelaez And Wilson Schmidt -- Private Versus Public? : Agenda-setting In International Agro-technologies / Paul Richards. Kees Jansen & Sietze Vellema, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. How far are agribusiness corporations responding to emerging environmental awareness to play their part in the 'greening' of agriculture and food? Are they developing new environmentally-friendly products, services and production methods? How much change is voluntary, and where is external direction needed? These questions are explored through these highly original investigations of particular biotech and other agribusiness companies -- including Monsanto, Ciba Geigy, Dole, and Chiquita. Some companies have exploited new consumer-created markets; some have sought to change their production practices; others have complied with (or resisted) state environmental regulation. The book explains why some corporations have successfully carried through profound changes, and others have not. The key lies in the interaction between profit and efficiency considerations, and consumer preferences, NGO pressures and government regulation Agribusiness and Society examines in detail how far agribusiness corporations are responding to emerging environmental awareness. The book investigates particular biotech and other agribusiness companies - including Monsanto, Ciba Geigy, Dole, and Chiquita - and their behaviour around the world