The agricultural production of fruits and vegetables in the greater Mediterranean region – from the Netherlands to Spain to Senegal – is characterized by entanglements and mutual interdependencies that are manifested on many different, but related, levels. Production sites such as Bouches-du-Rhône, El Ejido or Souss-Massa have emerged against a background of similar key factors; for example, EU structural aids, World Bank loans, water scarcity, sunshine hours and transportation, heating and labor costs. For that reason, these places should be considered as being part of a historical evolution and dynamic configuration of production and consumption between Europe and its neighboring countries. In the context of global commodity chains – shaped by agricultural politics and retail companies (e.g. Carrefour, Aldi) – agricultural production sites compete for trade quotas, export markets and market niches. However, just as European competitors are relocating production to North Africa, so are Moroccan and Tunisian actors investing in Spain or France. In turn, capital-intensive mobile enterprises increasingly dominate production systems in both regions. Since 2008, in the course of the financial and food crises, a reorientation of global capital flows can be observed. Financial instruments and institutions have become involved more than ever before at all points of the agri-food system. At the same time, in the struggle to reduce production costs seasonal workers are being selectively recruited, illegally employed and increasingly exploited. Together these dynamic factors result in processes of constant and selective (re)drawing of borders, while continuously producing new forms of flexibility, uncertainty, social insecurity and spatial marginalization.

The conference aims to investigate and critically analyze the diverse interactions of fragmentation and financialization of agricultural production systems on the one hand and (labor) migrations on the other. By that means, the conference lends to reaching a comprehensive understanding that transcends the separate examination of singular factors. The first part of the conference will highlight the greater Mediterranean region, while the second part will focus on complimentary case studies for example from the US, New Zealand or China. Theoretical contributions as well as empirical observations from the different research areas are welcome.

The conference languages are English and French. Please submit a 500 word abstract by 1 February 2011 to Sarah R. Sippel (sippel@uni-leipzig.de).

University of Leipzig:
Collaborative Research Centre 586 “Difference and Integration”; Centre for Area Studies; Research Training Group “Critical Junctures of Globalization”;