Topic 5 - Social impacts of food systems

In this section we explore some social factors that can be impacted by agricultural production. We focus on workers rights but also touch on land ownership, gender and vulnerable communities.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the basic definition of food security
  • Understand the four dimensions of food security
  • Understand some of the indicators of the four dimensions of food security.

Activities

  1. Watch the video

Introduction to social impacts

There are many aspects of agriculture and food systems that have the potential to have negative social impacts.
We will focus on one key social aspect in more detail: labour rights. 
Other areas of social impact that are of concern include:
 
  • Gender rights: In food systems, a person's gender affects their rights to own property, to access education, get fair pay and their exposure to risk. Men and women have very difference experiences in food systems. In many parts of the world women cannot legally own land, and cannot access agricultural education. Men often experience very high levels of risk in food systems, and in the UK levels of suicide in male agricultural workers is higher than in most other sectors. 
  • Discrimination: Discrimination  against minorities is found in food production around the globe. It takes many forms and can be on the grounds of race, religion, age, gender or sexual orientation. In the UK, these are called ‘protected characteristics’. In the UK, discrimination based on a protected characteristic is illegal, but cases still occur. In some countries, there is no legal protection from this form of discrimination. 
  • Land rights: Who owns land, and has rights to use it, is a serious question to consider in food systems, as this can be a cause of injustice if land is taken from customary or legal owners who do not have access to legal protection.
 
Video: Social aspects of food production (Dr Fiona Borthwick)

Social Aspects of Food Production

Additional material

  • Library of Congress: Voices remembering slavery: Free people tell their stories of slavery
  • Research Guide: UK National Archives Indentured Labour Collection: A research guide on how to find records of Indian indentured labourers at The National Archives
  • Striking Women: This website offers a set of educational resources on:  (i) migration, (ii) women and work, (iii)  rights and responsibilities at work and  (iv) the stories of South Asian women involved in the Grunwick and Gate Gourmet industrial disputes.  This site also provides resources for Black History Month that celebrate the contribution of Black and minority ethnic communities to the political and economic life of the UK, and to their role in the struggles for better rights for us all. The site includes  student-friendly research findings, workbooks, time-lines, case studies, curriculum
  • Trafficking in Human Beings: A factsheet from the European Court of Human Rights on Human Trafficking
  • Stronger Together Support: If you want to find out about action to prevent trafficing and slavery, this organisation offers support and guidance

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