Soyalism

Soyalism is a groundbreaking, intriguing 2018 documentary that delves into the intricacies of the global industrial food system, with a particular emphasis on the processes involved in the production of pork. Directed by Stefano Liberti and Enrico Parenti, this film offers a meticulous exploration of the complex landscapes of food production and paints a vivid picture of the challenges facing sustainable food production in the modern world.

The film aptly takes its title from a compound of 'soya' and 'capitalism,' reflecting the filmmakers' critical examination of the adverse impacts of globalized industrial food systems on our environments, economies, and societies. Despite its particular focus on the pork industry, Soyalism extends its reach towards the extensive soy supply chain, seed markets, and our broader global food system.

Set largely between the United States, Mozambique, Brazil, and China, the film presents a comprehensive critique of the environmental and ethical boundaries transgressed under the aegis of industrial agriculture. The filmmakers capture the true scale of the phenomenon by shuttling viewers across four continents, where obdurate corporates and governments work together to feed an unceasing demand for cheap meat, particularly pork, a mainstay of the global food market, especially revered in China.

Through a series of interviews with farmers, agricultural experts, and corporate representatives, viewers get a sense of the complex networks that feed into the production of pork and other consumer products. Simultaneously, Soyalism highlights the consequences of unchecked industrial farming - how it impacts not just those who consume the end product, but also those who cultivate and process it along the supply chain.

In the US - the world's largest pork producer- the film uncovers the industrial scales on which hogs are bred and slaughtered, a spectacle grim in its efficiency. It also talks about the looming environmental and health risks posed by this unsustainable industry. Overflowing lagoons of pig waste stand as noxious reminders of the 'messy business' of cheap food.

Contrasting the American situation with China, the world's largest consumer of pork, the film explores China's predicament as it grapples with its spot at the center of global consumption patterns. It discusses how this demand has led China to invest heavily in land and feed grain in parts of Africa and South America, raising dire environmental and socio-economic implications.

In Brazil and Mozambique, Soyalism sheds light on China's overseas agricultural ventures, as it aggressively acquires land for feed grain plantations. The film shows gut-wrenching stories of helpless Mozambican farmers, as their fertile lands are seized to grow soybeans intended to feed China's insatiable demand for pork. Similarly, in Brazil, extensive soybean plantations are depicted as environmental blights actively contributing to deforestation and soil degradation.

Most importantly, Soyalism underscores the urgency of re-evaluating our relationship with food. By unveiling the whirlwind of geopolitics, economics and environmental issues intertwined with the global food industry, it forces viewers to question the underlying costs of feeding an increasingly meat-hungry world. The film exposes the unfair trade-offs between economies of scale and the environment, providing a disconcertingly clear answer to the question - who really pays for our cheap food?

Despite its grim revelations, Soyalism refrains from didactic moralizing, focusing instead on vividly portraying the complexities of global food supply chains. In its sobering wake, viewers are urged to consider the pressing socio-economic and environmental challenges implicit in their food choices, invoking a powerful call to action towards more sustainable consumption patterns.

Soyalism operates as an enigmatic exploration into the world of global food production. Engaging, powerful, and laced with discontent, this film fosters a crucial understanding of our proximity to global agricultural practices - creating essential perspectives on our global socio-environmental consciousness and identity. As such, Soyalism presents a compelling case for change - not merely through changes in policy, but with an empathetic consumer audience in mind.