ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY DEGRADATION FROM THE ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD INDUSTRY

Abstract

This article analyzes the known environmental and social impacts caused by the degradation of agricultural biodiversity from practices by the “Big Food” and agro-industry associated with ultra-processed foods.Agriculture is the largest single source of environmental and biodiversity degradation, responsible for over 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions and has little or ineffective policy control. It intends to give a comprehensive analysis showing how each part of the ecosystem is negatively affected along with human health; through practices of monocropping, financialization of food systems and heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides. It takes a look at t he role governments and actors in international policy-making play in being a determinant of power for the spread of ultra-processed foods and the growth of “Big Food”, agro- corporations and monoculture farming. It looks at social factors such as health, agro-industry policy and global food agendas in regard to climate governance and our food system.Keywords: Agrobiodiversity, soil degradation, monocropping, big food, food policy, ultra- processed foods and health.