Beyond Exotic Wet Markets: COVID-19 Ecologies in the Global Meat-Processing Industry in Brazil

Abstract

In this article we argue that the overvaluation of exotic narratives about wild animal consumption and wet markets conceals how the global agribusiness establishes unhealthy ecologies. Increasing infection rates from the new coronavirus registered among meat industry workers, their families, and the community, resulted in the suspension of several establishments in this sector in Brazil. If the meat processing industry cannot be considered entirely safe, why are risks to health, morality, and civility often represented by the unregulated practices of wet markets considered exotic? This paper shows that the global meat processing industry weaves a myriad of intimate encounters between humans, animals, highly toxic chemicals, organic waste, and precarious work relationships. They are unhealthy ecologies where coexistence, infection, risk, and death are always involved. We suggest a multispecies approach to analyse and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; instead of the exaltation of contagion and the boundaries of contention, there needs to be an effort to establish integrated policies for the health and joint care of humans, animals, and environments.