Exposing corporate capture of the UNFSS through multistakeholderism

The document examines how Multistakeholder Initiatives (MSIs) and corporate entities influence the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS). It argues that the transition from state-led multilateralism to multistakeholderism allows transnational corporations and private foundations to direct policy and promote 'technofixes' and 'nature-based solutions' that maintain corporate dominance while ignoring structural inequalities and food sovereignty.

• An analysis of 26 food and agriculture Multistakeholder Initiatives (MSIs) reveals that the corporate private sector is the most influential stakeholder group, often holding leadership roles as chairs or vice chairs of decision-making bodies.
• The World Economic Forum (WEF) and World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) are primary corporate actors leading five major MSIs, including the UNFSS and the Eat-Lancet Commission on Sustainable Healthy Food Systems.
• The UNFSS is criticized for prioritizing corporate agri-tech and private sector interests over the needs of affected communities such as peasants, indigenous peoples, and pastoralists, effectively undermining rights-based governance spaces like the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS).
• Corporate influence is heavily concentrated in UNFSS Action Track 3 ('Boost nature-positive production'), where 29 private sector corporations and 26 MSI leadership teams are represented compared to only one indigenous group.
• The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), founded by the Gates and Rockefeller foundations, promotes an industrial agriculture model in Africa that prioritizes seeds and chemicals, despite reports that undernourishment increased by 30% in countries where it operates.
• Major corporations like Nestlé and Shell are accused of using 'nature-based solutions' and carbon offsets to avoid reducing emissions at the source, with Nestlé planning to increase production of dairy and livestock by 68 percent by 2030.
• The governance of the UNFSS is characterized by 'revolving doors' and deep interconnections between MSIs, corporate philanthropies, and the UN, creating an informal parallel structure to multilateral governance.

APA

Chandrasekaran, K., Guttal, S., Kumar, M., Langner, L., & Manahan, M. A. (2021). Exposing corporate capture of the UNFSS through multistakeholderism. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Exposing-corporate-capture-of-the-UN-Food-Systems-Summit-through-multistakeholderism.pdf

Chicago

Chandrasekaran, Kirtana, Shalmali Guttal, Madhuresh Kumar, Laura Langner, and Mary Ann Manahan. Exposing corporate capture of the UNFSS through multistakeholderism. Friends of the Earth International, 2021. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Exposing-corporate-capture-of-the-UN-Food-Systems-Summit-through-multistakeholderism.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Chandrasekaran |first1=Kirtana |last2=Guttal |first2=Shalmali |last3=Kumar |first3=Madhuresh |last4=Langner |first4=Laura |last5=Manahan |first5=Mary Ann |title=Exposing corporate capture of the UNFSS through multistakeholderism |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=23 September 2021 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Exposing-corporate-capture-of-the-UN-Food-Systems-Summit-through-multistakeholderism.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chandrasekaran2021exposing, author = {Chandrasekaran, Kirtana and Guttal, Shalmali and Kumar, Madhuresh and Langner, Laura and Manahan, Mary Ann}, title = {{Exposing corporate capture of the UNFSS through multistakeholderism}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2021}, month = sep, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Exposing-corporate-capture-of-the-UN-Food-Systems-Summit-through-multistakeholderism.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }