Fernando M. Reimers et al.

Overview

The aim of this unit is for students to understand the global interdepen—
dencies and linkages in different food products beyond chocolate. Using
the framework they used to examine the interdependencies and associated
controversies in chocolate manufacturing, students can analyze the value—
addition process in the manufacturing of food products such as bananas,
milk, or coffee.

(Note that the teacher can decide whether this unit is necessary based on the
amount of time left in the year.)

Activity 8.8.1

Understanding Value Addition and Controversies in
Other Food Products

The teacher informs the students that many of the issues they confronted
around chocolate manufacturing and cocoa processing (such as child labor,
free trade, and rising prices) are common in the manufacturing of several
other food products.

The class is once again divided into groups, and each group is given a food
product to research. They will use their research on chocolate and cocoa as a
model for this research. The food products can include bananas, milk, cot—
ton, or coffee. (Note that students may have a hard time relating to coffee,
as they probably don’t drink it. Thus, it’s only a suggestion, and the first
three options might be more appropriate.)The students could then answer
the following list of questions, and possibly even trace some of them using
a map:

1. Where are these products grown and manufactured?
2. Where are they are exported to?
3. Historically, what trends have there been in production levels and

prices?

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