Olivia Soudah - FWP1-3

docx

School

University of Wisconsin, Madison *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

104

Subject

Anthropology

Date

Jan 9, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by ProfRoseFinch9

Anthropology 104 Fieldwork Project 1 | Commodity Chain Analysis Project Journal Name: Olivia Soudah TA Name: N/A? Discussion Section Number: N/A? Semester and Year: Summer 2021 Getting Started Welcome to your journal assignments for Fieldwork Project 1! Please add your information to this template (above), rename and save it in Microsoft Word .docx or .doc format. Make sure the filename includes your name and the name of the assignment (FWP1). (Example) FWP1 Wendy Liu.docx Submission: The project journal will be completed in several steps. You will be submitting this same journal file multiple times in different stages of writing, in response to each journal assignment below. If you do not submit the file to Canvas by the deadline you will not be awarded points for that journal assignment. For the first assignment you are only expected to complete Journal 1.1 (the others will still be blank). By the end of the project, all the assignments in your journal will be filled in. Journal 1.1 | Reading Response Instructions & Expectations Before you begin this writing assignment:  Read the article “How Sushi Went Global” by Theodore Besto r. Download PDF from Canvas.  Watch the NPR video series “Planet Money Makes A T-Shirt”. Follow links on Canvas. Write 2-4 sentences in response to each of the question below. The first question has been completed as an example. DUE DATE: This assignment needs to be completed by 11:59pm on June 21st . 1 Anthropology 104 | Field Work Project 1

(Example) How has the demand for tuna changed over time? Tuna has been a popular food in Japan for centuries. Today, millions of pounds of it are sold every day in Tokyo’s wholesale seafood market. In North America, sushi was a largely unheard during the early 20th century, but during late 20th century it became a trendy food in American cities, as well as in Europe and Latin America. Consuming sushi became a sign of class status, education, and taste, and so the demand for tuna grew and the price per pound became very high. 1. Describe the locations, technologies, and workers involved in producing tuna for sushi restaurants. With sushi’s growth in popularity, Japan remains the world’s primary market for tuna. However, New England and other Atlantic coastlines have become important locations to supply the increased demand of Bluefin tuna worldwide. The technology used in catching these fish differs from region to region. Fishers in New England opt to fish for tuna one by one, where other areas such as in Europe, use industrial gear (both traditional and revolutionary) such as almadraba and French purse seiners to fish for the tuna in mass quantities. As fishers often come from fishing centered communities, these communities have grown alongside the industry and brought communities into contact with the shared goal of catching these expensive fish to sell to restaurants. Alongside fisherman, tuna buyers, chefs, and other workers in the global sushi business is a vital part of getting the fish across the country, or world, to restaurants. 2. How does the fact that tuna is sold internationally effect fishers’ livelihoods? Fishing has long been an important staple in many different communities. With new monetary motivations and the globalization of the industry, many motives have been likely been changed of fishing to make a living, to fishing to get rich in this lucrative business. Family businesses are now competition against global operations, as prices rise and fall dramatically. The international tuna trade has also changed what many fishermen’s livelihood depends on, as instead of local markets, they are dependent far away markets vital to another culture. 3. Describe the locations, technologies, and workers involved in making a t-shirt. As cotton is a resource used globally, America has maintained its dominance in the cotton industry with their farms. However, Bangladesh, Columbia and Indonesia have become hubs for t-shirt production with their factories. While a sad history of slavery is often tied to the cotton industry, modern technologies such as tractors for harvesting, high-speed gins to remove seeds, and automatic bailers have revolutionized the crop, while less high-tech technologies such as shipping containers also continue to create this new global economy. With the actual production of the t-shirt, people have been replaced with high-tech machines that automatically spin, stretch, and twist the crop into a yarn, which can then be woven into fabric, which is died and made into shirts. Even though automated machines have replaced many people, workers are still vital as they captain ships, engineer seeds, sew the shirts and more, adding hard work and humanity to this increasingly globalized and automated industry. Machines can’t fully replace the need of people. 4. Describe some of the differences between working at a t-shirt factory in Bangladesh versus Columbia. There are many differences between working a t-shift factory in Bangladesh versus Columbia. These two women in different countries may be doing essentially the same job, but their lifestyles and position in life is extremely different. While one happens to be a part of the garment industry, one must be in the industry for survival. As mentioned in the series, in Bangladesh, the garment industry is the main industry, as many seek to escape extreme poverty by working in the factories, despite the social upheaval and horrid conditions. For Bangladeshi people, the factories give them a chance to pay off debt and escape starvation, and for women in particular, they escape from villages where they are seen as an economic burden. On the other hand, in Columbia, the garment industry is one of many industries, as Doris makes 4x the amount Jasmine makes in Bangladesh and can support herself and her mother while saving money. 2 Anthropology 104 | Field Work Project 1

5. What did you find most interesting, important, and/or confusing about the article? With the article, the most interesting thing to me was reading about the job market, visas, and different certifications people get to be a part of this money-spinning business. To me, it’s just shocking to consider all these different working parts, especially with how a single chain has created so many of these unique jobs and opportunities not only in Japan, but all over the world. This business has grown and expanded. 6. What did you find most interesting, important, and/or confusing about the video series? With the video, I was shocked and quite upset to see the reality of the garment industry in Bangladesh. I find it sad to see how two people in the world can work just as hard in the same industry, while one is fighting for survival and the other is making a living. I think this is something very important that we need to pay attention to, because clearly changes need to be made, especially as the industry continues to grow. 7. What have you learned from the article and the video series that may be useful to you when you conduct a commodity chain study yourself? One of my main takeaways from both the article in and the video series is there are often more parts and factors than what meets the eye. For example, when you look at the tuna/sushi business, I didn’t consider some of the environmental and social effects the growing tuna business has had, and how it has had an impact on people and societies in different ways. As demand changes, it forces people’s way of life and potentially even their values to change. This will be useful to me when I conduct a commodity chain study myself because it has shown me to consider some factors that don’t immediately come to mind, and aren’t as obvious, such as the worker’s lives or the environmental impact of products. Also with the cotton industry, there are also so many effects and moving parts within the industry that don’t meet the naked eye. Journal 1.2 | Commodity Choice Instructions & Expectations You are going to do your own commodity chain analysis about one of the types of commodities from the list below. During your discussion section, you should have started thinking about which type of commodity will be most interesting for you to research.  chocolate bar  smart phone  pair of sneakers After you have selected the type of commodity, pick a specific brand of that commodity (e.g. a Hershey’s chocolate bar, a pair of Nike sneakers, etc.). Make sure to choose a specific brand that, based on your preliminary research in discussion section, appears to have relevant sources about its production available online. Remember:  Choose a commodity that will be interesting for you to explore.  Choose a commodity that, based on your preliminary research, appears to have enough relevant sources. Task Based on the work you did in discussion section, write down your choice of commodity, the specific brand, and a brief explanation of why you chose it in the space provided below. Your TA will review these and advise you which one(s) likely to be successful for your research. 3 Anthropology 104 | Field Work Project 1

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Please review your TA’s feedback on Canvas before proceeding with your project. DUE DATE: This assignment needs to be completed by 11:59pm on June 21st . Commodity Choice Type of commodity Chocolate Bar Brand of commodity Nestlé Why did you choose this commodity? (1-2 sentences) Frankly, I chose this because I love chocolate and the cacao used in chocolate is a resource that is grown in such specific and exotic regions of the world. Nestlé is a company that creates many of the chocolate products that I eat, cook with, and even drink, so I thought it would be an interesting brand to investigate. Journal 1.3 | Commentary on Sources Instructions & Expectations For this Journal entry you will need to find at least five sources that provide you with information about the production of your commodity. These sources should be either newspaper articles or reports written by governments or non- governmental organizations. These sources should not include editorials/opinion pieces, blog entries, or personal websites. Look at the questions for your next Journal (1.4) and use these questions to guide your research. Succeeding in your Research To find answers to these questions, begin by looking at the website for the brand you selected. What information do they have about the production of their commodity? Take notes on what you find. While you read, consider how the goals of the company may shape what information is included and how it is presented. Another obvious starting point is Wikipedia. You can read this for relevant information and ideas, but it will not count as one of your sources. Research Tip: Articles often make reference to other articles, either in text or in their reference list (if they have one). By following up these links you can quickly expand your pool of relevant sources! Be persistent: if the first five sources you read do not allow you to sufficiently answer the questions above, read more sources! Task Include the company website, plus at least 5 more relevant sources. List them, along with a brief commentary. Write 2-4 sentences of commentary for each source:  briefly summarize its content and how it contributes to your analysis / what information it provides  also include the web address of the source DUE DATE: This assignment needs to be completed by 11:59pm on June 21st . 4 Anthropology 104 | Field Work Project 1

Source (Title, Link and/or Publication Info) Commentary Example Commodity Chain and Coffee Prices. https://kencaf.com/commodity-chain-and-coffee-prices/ Example This webpage has some useful statistics about the production and supply of coffee. It has two graphics that helped me to better understand all the steps between the producer and the consumer, and how these are related. Nestlé Annual Review (Company Website - 2020) https://www.nestle.com/sites/default/files/2021-03/2020- annual-review-en.pdf This webpage provides a multitude of different information, from logistical information about the company to their future goals relating to humanitarian issues and climate change. There are lots of informative graphics, including tables and charts that highlight the most important yearly takeaways and statistics. This page also includes information about where and how their products are manufactured, going as far as to break it down by where each factory is and what kind of Nestlé products, they manufacture which was very useful for me to understand the global reach the company has. They put lots of detailed information. Lastly, there is important information regarding the workers’ quality of life and Nestlé in different communities, as well as the values Nestlé aims to withhold. Buying a Chocolate Bar: The Cocoa Commodity Chain and its Actors in respect to economic, social and environmental impacts https://www.eine-welt-ka.de/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Buying- a-Chocolate-Bar-The-Cocoa-Commodity-Chain_Zoll.pdf While this source doesn’t directly focus on Nestle, it helps me understand the global commodity chain for chocolate much better and understand many of the industry norms in production and standard. It also was very useful to identify how the geography of a commodity chain impacts the cocoa trade and business. It also helped me understand how Nestle fits into the chocolate sector globally and helped me understand their role alongside other companies. Lastly, this piece mostly helped me understand the issues and impacts of the consumption with production of chocolate products on societies and environments. Nestle Cocoa Plan https://www.nestle.com/csv/raw-materials/nestle-cocoa-plan This webpage discusses Nestlé’s “Cocoa Plan” which was created to address supply chain issues and help farmers address the challenges they face every day. This plan is based on three pillars – better farming, better lives, and better cocoa. This 5 Anthropology 104 | Field Work Project 1

webpage goes into detail about responsible sourcing, which is relevant to my research on the products, as well as dives into social issues the cocoa industry faces such as child labor and gender inequality which helps me better understand the chain. Also, there are many useful graphics and statistics highlighted throughout the article! Nestle Cocoa Processing and Chocolate Manufacturing https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/article/1032/nestle-cocoa- processing-chocolate-manufacturing/ This magazine article breaks down the chocolate bar, discussing the different qualities looked for in a chocolate bar and how it is processed. This is very useful to me because they break down what materials Nestle uses, as well as what methods and processes the factories follow. Also, this article helped me understand the other ways that chocolate is checked for quality and what this process looks like in a factory setting. Nestle to Investigate Child Labor On Its Cocoa Farms https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2011/11/29/142891462/nestle- to-investigate-child-labor-on-its-cocoa-farms This webpage helped me understand the reality of child labor in the cocoa industry and the role it plays. I didn’t realize how widespread this issue is, and how it has persisted despite efforts to limit it. I also realized it’s a multifaceted issue that can’t be solved alone. Nestle is not the only company facing this issue. West Africa’s Cocoa Farmers are trapped by the global chocolate industry https://qz.com/africa/1725709/ghana-ivory-coasts-cocoa-farmers- trapped-by-chocolate-industry/ Even though this wasn’t a source directly from Nestle, it helps me understand this issue. Since child labor is such a heavily covered topic, this article helped me understand some of the issues that lie deeper that effect adult workers and families. This article also illuminated parts of the past that have led the industries to where they are today. Lastly, this article informed me of some of the rising threats, such as child trafficking and increased costs, and what we can do to limit these from becoming a widespread reality as much as possible. I never realized how harsh the chocolate industry is on its farmers. Self-Assessment Ready to begin your Final Analysis & Reflection (Journal 1.4)? Some of the questions in Journal 1.4 may be easier to answer than others -- it isn't always possible to find detailed information about every aspect of a commodity chain. Here is a self-assessment rubric to help you confirm when you've done enough research to begin the final analysis.  Do you feel like you can sufficiently answer all or most of the questions in Journal 1.4? YES or NO 6 Anthropology 104 | Field Work Project 1

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

 If there are questions in Journal 1.4 you still feel you cannot answer, can you give a brief explanation of where and how you looked for the information, and why you think you were not able to find it? YES or NO If you answer "YES" to both questions, you are probably ready to begin! If you answer "NO" to either of these questions, look back at the sources you have and also consider looking for more sources. Journal 1.4 | Final Analysis & Reflection Instructions & Expectations Drawing on the information you learned from your sources, write your analysis & reflection by responding to each of the following questions; each response should be 150 – 250 words, unless otherwise noted . DUE DATE: This assignment needs to be completed by 11:59pm on June 24 th . 1. What commodity and brand did you pick? (1 sentence) I chose the commodity of a chocolate bar, and the brand I chose was Nestle. 2. Where are the headquarters for the company that sells this commodity, and what is the company’s annual profit? (1-2 sentences) Nestle headquarters are in Vevey, Switzerland. With the most recent data (2020), Nestlé’s profit was translated to roughly 15 billion USD. 3. Describe | Where do the materials for the commodity come from, and how are they produced? In Nestle’s Cocoa Plan, the critical locations for their materials are Ecuador, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Indonesia. Noticeably, most of Nestle’s cocoa comes from West Africa, which makes sense because Africa represents 72% of the world’s cocoa production. Also, its noted that some of their cocoa comes from Ecuador. Workers in Ecuador need to harvest the cocoa pods, which are then fermented and dried before being cleaned and roasted at the factories. Most of the work, other than fermenting and drying, is done in a factory. Many farming techniques are important to produce the quality and quantity of cocoa needed by these large companies. Although cocoa itself is an important ingredient, there are two other leading ingredients that are necessary for chocolate bars. These are cocoa butter and sugar. Cocoa butter is not made until it reaches the manufacturers. Sugar comes from sugarcanes. Nestle’s locations to get sugar are India, Brazil, Mexico, and Thailand. The important thing about these locations is that they use sugar mills. Like the cocoa, this process is highly dependent on farming techniques to produce the quality and quantity needed. Many, if not all of these farmers dedicate their lives to help produce these crops. “ In a later stage of the chocolate manufacturing process, the dry chocolate mixture (cocoa particles , sugar and cocoa butter or milk solids) is mixed and ground into fine particles.” ( Nestle Cocoa Processing and Chocolate Manufacturing) 4. Assess | What are the working conditions of the people who produce the materials? Just like the T-shirt documentary, working conditions of the people will vary depending on where the commodity is being produced. Each country or part of a country has different cultures and different economies which the workers will face. In Nestle’s cocoa industry, the working conditions show just this. For example, in Cote d’Ivoire, most of the country’s impoverished people are small-scale cocoa farmers. Since the economic pressure is so extreme in many of these countries, child labor is a widespread and challenging issue in the cocoa industry, as many children work long hours in subpar working conditions. Nestle has long 7 Anthropology 104 | Field Work Project 1

been a culprit of allowing these conditions to continue. With their new Cocoa Plan, they aim to eliminate child labor completely from their farms but there is major doubt because this is much easier said than done. Aside from child labor, other problems such as the physical conditions have deteriorated since the rise of the industry in the 1970s, leaving workers at physical risk of being hurt. In addition to the conditions of cocoa farmers, Nestle has recognized the fact that sugar farming cannot only be challenging, but dangerous. Because sugarcane has certain harvest periods, farmers have recorded an increased number of migrant workers living and working in sugarcane regions. Due to this influx of people, these regions have seen limited access to sanitation and potable water, overcrowding, lack of education for children and exposure to dangerous conditions, and improper working practices (such as inappropriate disposal of chemicals). Finally, the financial situation these workers are in is subpar. “ Farmers are also still under pressure to supply markets in wealthy countries instead of securing their own future.” (West Africa’s Cocoa Farmers are trapped by the global chocolate industry. 5. Describe | Where and how is the commodity assembled? Nestlé has 447 factories, operates in 189 countries, and employs around 339,000 people. After the initial steps like fermenting, drying, and grinding are done, the cocoa leaves the farms and is ground into butter, power, or liquor to make the “semi-finished cocoa”. These factories which are making the “semi-finished cocoa” are the middlemen between the farmers and the manufacturers. Following this, Nestle uses 36 different countries for “confectionary” factories where different types of chocolate bars are created. For example, we can say that the chocolate goes to Nestle’s largest chocolate factory, which is in Broc, Switzerland. Most of the chocolate used is heated, so it liquifies, and then it is pressed. Then, its mixed with its other ingredients like sugar, and many other add-ins. Next, the chocolate is placed in a conche. Conching smooths out the ingredients thoroughly throughout the mixture. The chocolate is then tempered, to ensure proper crystallization before it is molded into shape on a production line or by hand then wrapped for sale. Whether machines or hands-on labor is utilized, these factories employ people from all over the world to help assemble these chocolate bars. Depending on the type of chocolate bar, ingredients and quality will differ. The nice part with Nestle is that they make low/cheap and high-quality chocolate. They make chocolate for eating or for baking. They have a well-rounded selection of chocolate. 6. Assess | What are the working conditions of the people who assemble the commodity? As previously mentioned, the working conditions of people within the factories can depend on where the factory is, the regulations in place, and the economy. For example, in regard to wages, Nestle employees in some areas earn solid, average wages for a factory job. But, in other areas, like in Russia, the only way to earn more money than roughly 8 USD a day would be to work an additional night shift, creating dangerous working conditions as employees work long hours. In some developing areas, the factories have been previously found to not meet physical requirements, as factory workers often lacked protective equipment, or they did not have access to clean water while working in the factories. At the same time, factories across Europe had employees who didn’t complain of working conditions and make a comfortable living in either factory or office jobs for Nestle. Some of these factories still have a long way to go, and they are overseen more closely than many of the farms. 7. Assess | What are the other impacts (environmental, social, economic) of producing and assembling the commodity? To begin, the cocoa industry has caused irreversible amounts of environmental damage in areas of West Africa. Many forest areas are uprooted and replaced with cocoa farms. With the combination of the uprooting of vegetation, the strategies used (like burning the trees), and cultivation, there has also been a significant decrease in soil fertility, which has lowered cocoa yields, making farmers plant more cocoa. This has created a horrible cycle that is contributing rapidly to deforestation. The cocoa business has also had profound social issues, putting children at risk globally. In Cote D’Ivoire, 54.7% of children do at least one task relating to cocoa, which is much higher than the African average of 28%. With 90% of all cocoa farms using child labor, 8 Anthropology 104 | Field Work Project 1

there have been major social impacts on the children in many West African countries. Additionally, the cocoa industry has attracted migrants from Burkina Faso and Mali, creating greater social upheaval as Ivoirians and migrants from Burkina Faso have disputed in the past over regulations, and have in the past had altercations that approached civil war. Since the Cote D’Ivoire is the #1 global cocoa producer, it isn’t just Nestle that has contributed to these issues. But, Nestle is a serious culprit as they are a huge company that accounts for a large part of the cocoa exported from the region. Lastly, economic damages have been seen as companies such as Nestle support the cocoa business, leaving farmers pressured to produce materials and work hard in factories to supply markets in wealthy countries instead of worrying about themselves. 8. Critically Reflect | How easily were you able to find information about the commodity? What challenges did you face, and what might be the reasons for these challenges? Overall, it was not difficult to find information on the cocoa business, but it was slightly more difficult to find the “truth” behind the companies. There was a lot of unreliable resources and fake news. For example, it was easy for me to find information about the issue of child labor in West Africa caused by the cocoa business, but more difficult for me to find reliable information about child labor relating to Nestle in particular. Additionally, I faced challenges in finding good information about many of the factories. Since Nestle is a huge company with many factories, most of the information I found was broad, generalized information about all their factories, which produce a variety of commodities such as coffee, water, baby formula, etc. These are the problems with such large companies. I think the reason for many of the challenges I faced was Nestlé’s desire to limit the publicity of many of their problems. Naturally, Nestle wants the public to see the efforts to better their company. Instead of finding information about many of their current issues, I instead found lots of information about their future plans and goals. Specifically, when I went to look on the Nestle website to get information from the source, I was constantly referred to their “new Cocoa Plan” which outlined goals and programs for the future. While it did answer some of my questions, it didn’t mention or recognize many of the realities of their company in the present. 9. Connect | How do your findings about your commodity connect to concepts about political economy we discussed in class (i.e. in the lectures, section, or textbook)? My findings about my commodity connect to concepts about the political economy in the way that Nestlé’s cocoa industry has impacted how societies around the globe function because of their presence in the region. This was most apparent in Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire, as migrants moved to these countries as well as people who weren’t previously involved with the cocoa business found themselves now involved. The cocoa industry reshaped the economy of both countries, creating large numbers of jobs and taking a physical presence in these countries, which ultimately changed the societies and communities. Additionally, it’s important to look at how capitalism affected these countries. Companies like Nestle, who come from capitalist countries with large economies, use these countries with less developed economies for economic gain. Within capitalism, these workers do not accumulate wealth, and in these countries, they often fall further into debt and become increasingly dependent on this industry and jobs. Nestle gains hard workers for a much cheaper price. According to Marx, capitalism only exists through exploitation, which can be considered valid in this case as many African communities have been exploited because of their willingness to work for any wages, despite how small. 10. Connect | How have your ideas/feelings about this commodity changed after learning about it My ideas/feelings about this commodity have changed after learning about it as I have become aware of many problems I did not know existed before. With the way we live now, we don’t really think of the whole history of a product before we eat it or use it. Now, when I see a Nestle chocolate bar (or any chocolate bar for that matter), I will be able to picture the lives of those who were behind making it. Additionally, it also has created more negative feelings for me towards many of these huge companies. I want to try preserving 9 Anthropology 104 | Field Work Project 1

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

smaller, cleaner businesses, even if it costs me a little more. After learning about the conditions and many of the things they allow to happen, it’s hard not to feel guilty of allowing these companies to grow at the expense of others around the globe. Lastly, I feel more connected after researching this commodity. By learning about the total chain, I now know much more about everyone who took part in making the finished products that we see every day. I now can connect myself to a West African country I’ve never visited and people I’ve never met, simply because I’ve eaten a chocolate bar that they helped produce. 11. Reflect | What have you learned about yourself while completing this project? (1-3 sentences) I learned that I am unaware of many of the “behind the scenes” actions that take place to get our everyday products to our grocery stores and tables. I never truly think about how much hard work can go into such unnecessary everyday wants. I found it sad but intriguing to learn about many of the issues that different people are facing, how they are connected to things I am familiar with, and I how I could help. 12. Advise | What would you do differently if you did this assignment again to achieve more in-depth answers? (1-3 sentences) To achieve more in-depth answers, I would aim to choose a smaller company instead of the large company, Nestle. My initial mindset was the bigger the company, the easier it will be and the more online resources I’ll find. But I soon realized the information is a lot more vague, harder to find, and was difficult to find what was reliable. 10 Anthropology 104 | Field Work Project 1

Olivia Soudah - FWP1-3

Related Documents