Skip to search boxSkip to navigationSkip to main content

From pastoral to industrial agriculture: global food chains and the drivers of climate change

Research Output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding Chapter Peer-review

Open access

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
    SDG 2 Zero Hunger
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action

Abstract

Mankind has long reshaped nature to favour crops and livestock. Starting in the mid-twentieth century, the introduction of mechanisation and chemical fertilisers led to the rapid industrialisation of the agricultural sector, the creation of large-scale monocultures, and intensive animal farming and grazing, which together delivered enormous productivity improvements. However, large-scale land clearances lessened the carbon capture, increasing vulnerabilities to erosion and flooding and degrading water systems. In 2022, the food chain was the largest contributor after industry to greenhouse emissions. Food’s role in national identity and culture, food security, and issues including genetic modification, ultra-processed foods, globalisation, and employment had become highly politicised. Seed, fertiliser, and grain markets and retailers, all of whom drove activities in the food chain, had become increasingly concentrated oligopolies, capable of influencing agricultural practices and climate policies. This chapter provides a historical overview of the development of the agro-business sector, highlighting how entrepreneurs, policymakers, and business leaders in New Zealand attempted to “green” the food chain in the 1980s and 1990s, and also the obstacles they encountered.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding Chapter Peer-review

Host publication Subtitle

Historical Perspectives

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 129-147 (19 pages)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 30/04/2025

Publication status

Published - 30/04/2025

Publisher

Taylor & Francis, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Singapore

ISBN (Print)

9781032763392

ISBN (Electronic)

9781040330654

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/626813
  • Scopus: 105003003630

Host publication title

Climate Change and Business

Access to documents

Publication metrics