Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
5074311 Geoforum 2012 9 Pages PDF
Abstract

The European Union (EU) recently terminated the Sugar Protocol, which had provided a guaranteed minimum price for sugar exports from countries in the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group. Caribbean sugar producers have responded in a variety of different ways. This paper engages with the adjustment of the Barbadian sugar sector; in particular, the agronomic cane breeding and selection program currently underway.This paper demonstrates the value that vitalist materialism, as a philosophical approach, has for understanding the situated practices and politics of cane variety selection in Barbados. Approaching agronomic practices from a more-than-human, vitalist perspective has political as well as practical significance, illuminating the lack of attention given to the specific material relations and temporalities of sugarcane in national 'adjustment' plans.

► Vitalist materialism is a useful approach for more-than-human geographers. ► Materialities of sugar-cane breeding have important consequences for policy. ► Disjunctural temporality of materialities shapes the outcome of policy. ► Economic policy must take into account vital materialisms if it is to be effective.

Related Topics
Social Sciences and Humanities Economics, Econometrics and Finance Economics and Econometrics
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