Glossary
Export Commodity
Goods produced in one country and sold to another, often forming a significant part of a nation's trade.
Example:
Brazil is a major producer of soybeans, which it sells to countries like China, making soybeans a key export commodity for Brazil.
Fair Trade Agreement
Agreements designed to promote equitable treatment of workers and sustainable environmental practices in the production of goods, often by setting minimum prices and requiring responsible methods.
Example:
A coffee cooperative in Ethiopia selling its beans under a Fair Trade Agreement ensures that farmers receive a guaranteed minimum price and work under safe conditions.
Global Supply Chains
Networks of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in moving a product or service from raw materials to the final consumer across international borders.
Example:
The journey of a smartphone, from rare earth minerals mined in Africa to assembly in Asia and sale in Europe, illustrates a complex global supply chain.
Infrastructure
The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, such as roads, bridges, power supplies, and communication networks.
Example:
A country with poor infrastructure, like unpaved roads and unreliable electricity, struggles to transport agricultural goods to markets, leading to significant food waste.
Interdependence
A relationship where countries rely on each other for food production, processing, and distribution, highlighting the interconnectedness of the global agricultural system.
Example:
When a drought in Brazil impacts global coffee prices, consumers in Europe feel the ripple effect, demonstrating global interdependence.
Intra-regional Trade
The exchange of goods and services between countries located within the same geographical region.
Example:
The extensive trade of agricultural products like wine, cheese, and olive oil among member states of the European Union is a prime example of intra-regional trade.
Luxury Crop
High-value crops that are not essential for survival and are often consumed for pleasure or status.
Example:
While rice is a staple, cocoa beans, used to make chocolate, are considered a luxury crop because they are not necessary for basic human sustenance.
Neocolonialism
The economic and political control of developing countries by powerful nations, often through multinational corporations and trade agreements, rather than direct military rule.
Example:
A powerful nation's corporation establishing large-scale plantations in a developing country, influencing its government and economy to ensure cheap labor and resources, exemplifies neocolonialism.
North-South Divide
A socio-economic and political categorization of countries, where the 'North' generally refers to developed, wealthier nations and the 'South' to developing, poorer nations, often reflecting historical dependencies in trade.
Example:
The pattern where developed countries in the 'North' often export processed foods to developing countries in the 'South,' which in turn export raw materials, highlights the North-South Divide in global food distribution.
Rich-Poor Divide
The significant disparity in wealth and income within and between populations, directly influencing access to quality and diverse food options.
Example:
In many cities, high-income neighborhoods boast numerous gourmet grocery stores, while low-income areas might be 'food deserts' with limited access to fresh produce, illustrating the rich-poor divide in food access.
Seasonal Fluctuations
Variations in the availability and price of food products that occur throughout the year due to natural growing seasons, harvesting periods, and climate patterns.
Example:
The price of fresh strawberries typically drops significantly in summer when they are in season locally, but rises in winter when they must be imported from warmer climates, demonstrating seasonal fluctuations.
Subsidy
Government financial support provided to businesses or individuals to promote specific economic or social goals, often used in agriculture to stabilize prices or encourage production.
Example:
The US government provides subsidies to corn farmers, helping them maintain profitability even when market prices are low, which can influence global corn supply.
Urban-Rural Divide
The disparity in access to resources, services, and opportunities between urban (city) and rural (countryside) areas, often impacting food availability and diversity.
Example:
Residents in a bustling city typically have access to a wide variety of fresh produce from around the world, while those in an isolated rural village might rely on limited local crops, showcasing the urban-rural divide.