IISLA Library

IISLA Library

Research

Food Sovereignty and the Struggle for Rice Self-Sufficiency in the Philippines

Hunger continues to affect millions worldwide despite reports of a global food surplus. Whilst multilateral organisations engage in an apparent ‘import dependency versus self-sufficiency’ debate, small-scale food producers continue to suffer from the politico-economic and socio-ecological consequences of their states’ food policies. This research examines how the inequalities faced by these producers can be addressed to ensure national food security. Secondary sources are analysed using the capability approach to determine contingent circumstances and hindrances to the ‘freedom of production’, and their contextual application to the rice sector in the Philippines. This research argues that the commodified, globalised, and industrialised production under the corporate food regime has prevented farmers from determining what and how to produce. It then proposes food sovereignty as an alternative rights-based model for subsuming capital accumulation under producer reproduction and domestic self-sufficiency, although cognisant of the need to further explicate food distribution equity, especially among poor non-producers.

Availability and Accessibility of Selected Food Commodities in the Philippines: A Forecast

Hunger continues to affect millions worldwide despite reports of a global food surplus. Whilst multilateral organisations engage in an apparent ‘import dependency versus self-sufficiency’ debate, small-scale food producers continue to suffer from the politico-economic and socio-ecological consequences of their states’ food policies. This research examines how the inequalities faced by these producers can be addressed to ensure national food security. Secondary sources are analysed using the capability approach to determine contingent circumstances and hindrances to the ‘freedom of production’, and their contextual application to the rice sector in the Philippines. This research argues that the commodified, globalised, and industrialised production under the corporate food regime has prevented farmers from determining what and how to produce. It then proposes food sovereignty as an alternative rights-based model for subsuming capital accumulation under producer reproduction and domestic self-sufficiency, although cognisant of the need to further explicate food distribution equity, especially among poor non-producers.

Inclusive Innovation

Issue 1

December 3, 2019

In this issue:

Beyond impact investing in agriculture

Migration should be a choice, not a necessity

Wishing you all a conscious Christmas 

Issue 2

January 2020

In this issue:

Redefining charity: sustaining NGOs in a social enterprise regime