Free trade agreements (FTAs) often give large meat corporations an advantage over small-scale farmers and processors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), leading to market consolidation, loss of local livelihoods, and weaker food systems. One way to address this could be by developing policy tools that help LMICs protect their domestic meat industries while still engaging in global trade.

Policy Tools to Counter Corporate Dominance

Several strategies could be explored to level the playing field for local producers:

• Tariffs and quotas: Temporary measures to shield local markets from cheap imports.
• Subsidies and grants: Financial support to help small producers improve efficiency.
• Local content rules: Requiring a minimum percentage of domestically sourced meat.
• Stricter regulations: Environmental or animal welfare standards that apply equally to all producers.

These policies could be tailored to different country contexts, with case studies from places like Brazil showing how similar approaches have worked in poultry farming.

Stakeholder Dynamics and Implementation

Transnational corporations may resist such policies, while LMIC governments face pressure to sign FTAs for broader economic reasons. To increase adoption chances, the project could focus on:

• Building coalitions with local farmers, consumer groups, and environmental advocates.
• Designing simple, enforceable policies to work within weaker regulatory systems.
• Using WTO provisions that allow developing countries special protections.

Partnering with local NGOs and piloting policies in select regions could demonstrate effectiveness before wider rollout.

Research and Advocacy Approach

The project could start by analyzing existing FTAs and their impacts, then develop policy recommendations through:

1. Case studies of LMICs that have successfully resisted corporate consolidation.
2. Economic simulations to predict policy impacts.
3. Interviews with farmers, policymakers and corporate representatives.

Outputs might include policy briefs for governments and advocacy materials for NGOs, filling a gap between broad trade justice movements and sector-specific research.

While primarily policy-focused, funding could come from development grants or consulting work with LMIC governments seeking tailored solutions. The niche focus on meat industry consolidation through FTAs could make this particularly valuable where broader food system initiatives fall short.