Corporations Interfere with Food Systems: Report and Campaign Highlight Seed Monopolies, Pesticide Exports, and Lobbying Delays in South Africa
A multinational report highlights corporate seed monopolies and banned pesticide exports fueling food crises, while South Africa's health campaign pushes for warning labels by December.
Newsnibs Staff
- 2026-10-13
- Updated 3:58 AM UTC
(South Africa)
A report from Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Friends of the Earth Europe, IPES-Food and the Association of Ethical Shareholders argues that corporate concentration is a core reason the world's food systems are failing to feed people sustainably and affordably, and says the globe is entering its fourth wave of food price crises in 20 years. The report, titled "Agribusiness Atlas," finds that three corporations control 56% of the global seed market and says those companies create barriers for farmers through the commercialisation of hybrid seeds and patent restrictions.
The report also says EU companies including BASF and Teleos export banned pesticide substances to countries including South Africa, and that BASF exported more than 30,000 tonnes of banned substances in 2024. It argues that the balance of power in the food supply chain favors food processors and retailers, who retain most of the final retail margin even as raw commodity prices fall.
South Africa's own Plant Breeders' Rights Act 12 of 2018 took effect in June 2025. Mariam Mayet, director of the African Centre for Biodiversity, has criticized the Act for strengthening monopoly rights over corporate seeds.
Separately, the Competition Commission's 2026 Cost of Living report found it concerning that producer prices for brown bread, maize meal and sunflower oil remained elevated in August despite significant decreases in wheat, maize and sunflower seed prices.
On the health side, the Healthy Living Alliance says commercial food industry lobby groups have delayed approval of front-of-pack warning label regulations for more than three years. On 11 September, Heala launched its "90 Days to Protect Our Health" campaign, demanding that government and the Department of Health finalize and ratify South Africa's front-of-pack label regulations under Regulation 3337 by 10 December. The campaign runs in four phases, including media roll-outs, investigative reporting and grassroots mobilizations.
Heala says that if the labelling regulations are not approved by 10 December, it will invite the health minister to an open engagement, and if that engagement produces no satisfactory response, the organization plans protest action next year. Heala says that action would carry the mandate of more than 18,000 people who have signed its petition.
Photo by James Baltz on Unsplash
