A basic requirement of development is having enough to eat. As food prices rise, progress in many countries is being threatened. But while eradicating extreme hunger is among the Millennium Development Goals’ challenges, also rising up the agenda is pressure to improve nutrition and guarantee fair prices and decent working conditions for those in the food supply chain. In all these issues, business has a role to play.
In the food industry, consumers are paying growing attention to the working conditions of farm labourers. As they become better informed, shoppers base choices more heavily on ethical factors, particularly when it comes to food. Savvy companies have turned this to their advantage. Marks and Spencer’s “look behind the label” campaign informing customers about the way its products are sourced and made has helped the company attract ethically-minded shoppers.
