THE AGE OF THE SOYBEAN: AN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF SOY DURING THE GREAT ACCELERATION

The construction of the global economic system has been going on for cen- turies. The emergence and development of world trade; the prioritisation of industrialisation in Global North countries; colonialism and semi-colonialism; the export of capital, its collapse and its complete reintegration into the world market are the most significant features. In colonial times, there were already attempts to integrate intercontinental regions into Empires, for which the definition of 'world domination' is more appropriate. This form of globalisation - conducted under the catchwords of 'freedom' and 'market economy'-subjugates nature to the form of merchandise and in the interest of profit and economic exploitation.

Soy production for export, and the effects thereof, illustrates well the context of the globalisation of capital in agriculture. Particularly since the end of the 1990s, Europe has increased the value of soy as a cheap source of protein for intensive animal husbandry, leading to a rapid increase in its importation. Furthermore, in order to cultivate large areas at low cost, the adoption of transgenics is being advocated, with consequences continuing to be evaluated only from a technical point of view, ignoring environmental, social and biosecurity problems.