The Stinking Rose: How could the value chain of Chinese garlic be re-oriented to address environmental and health concerns, inequality and uphold human rights?

China produces up to 73% of the worlds garlic. This report focuses on exports to the US, a country with a history of domestic production. I argue that protectionist tariffs in place since the 1990s have proven unsuccessful, as the US still imports huge quantities from China. Benefits are spread unequally between actors along the value chain, with power in the hands of agri-food corporations. There are several environmental impacts directly related to production, and issues of exploitation (prison labour) in regards to processing.

This document was produced as an assignment for the FPM002 Political Economy of Food module undertaken at the Centre for Food Policy, City St Georges, University of London. The document has been written to address a marking criteria and learning outcomes.