China's meat revolution has entailed a massive increase in the concentrations of pigs, cows, poultry on "specialized" farms with intense price competition amongst retailers and processors that provide "cheap" and abundant meat to an urban population. Subsequent food safety problems are resulting in further government incentives for industrialization of the supply chain, with the U.S. meat industry as the model. Can Chinese public opinion change this direction and what lessons can be learned from the U.S. experience?
Presentations
Shefali Sharm's presentation
Tony Corbo's presentation
Dr. Peter Li's presentation
Speakers:
Shefali Sharma, Director of Agricultural Commodities and Globalization, IATP
Shefali is leading IATP's initiative on the social and environmental impacts of an increasingly globalized and concentrated meat industry. Her work in the past year has focused on China's meat and feed industries, the culmination of which are the four IATP reports. Over the last 18 years, Shefali's work has also focused on accountability of international trade and financial institutions, international trade and agricultural policies and their implications for social justice.
Dr. Peter Li, Associate Professor of East Asian Politics, University of Houston-Downtown
Dr. Li is also China Policy Specialist of Humane Society International, the global arm of the Humane Society of the United States. His research covers areas such as animal agriculture, transnational wildlife trade, and Northeast Asian international relations. Dr. Li conducted a survey of China's industrialized animal farming and its impact on food safety, environment and public health in 2005-2006. Dr. Li has published research papers in refereed journals and popular media on China's wildlife protection policy, wildlife farming, youth animal welfare awareness, Chinese scholarly inquiries of animal rights, and animals in Chinese ancient philosophies. Dr. Li is based in Houston.
Tony Corbo, Senior Lobbyist, Food and Water Watch
Tony is responsible for food-related legislative and regulatory issues that come before Congress and the Executive Branch. Tony has extensive organizing experience having directed major public employee representation campaigns in several states. He has also directed political campaigns at various levels, and he served as the administrative assistant to a Member of Congress. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Affairs from The George Washington University and a Master's degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.
