How does imperialism use food as a weapon?

Years ago, Henry Kissinger, the U.S. Secretary of State and number one enemy of the world's working people, expressed his view on global hegemony: "If you control the oil, you can control nations; if you control the food, you can control the people."

The thinking of this man, Kissinger, has also become dominant in Turkey.

It has manifested as monopolization or alienation in the food sector—in other words, the sustenance industry—and organized food retail.

How Was Monopolization and Alienation Realized in the Food Sector?

As in other developing countries, neoliberal policies implemented in Turkey led to the liberalization of trade, the reduction and subsequent removal of public regulations, the provision of equal treatment or even advantages to foreign capital, and, under the guise of economic stability programs, essentially the lowering of labor wages.

These policies created a new trade and investment environment for multinational firms. Thus, privatized public companies and domestic firms began to be bought up by multinational corporations. Certain oblivious experts appearing on TV screens commented on this by saying, "they succumbed to competition," or more accurately, they played a role in brainwashing us.

The agriculture and food sector was to receive its share of these implemented policies. The monopolized and alienated food industry began to market its products at higher rates through supermarket chains. In this way, profit margins remained high. At the same time, profit transfers were facilitated.

The balance of payments of developing countries gradually deteriorated through this path as well. New pursuits and aspirations were created for the strata enriched by urbanization and the deterioration of income distribution. These groups began to turn toward a consumer society and foreign products in the name of modernization.

The idea that solving certain problems in the marketing chain—such as quality and food safety—could only be possible through foreign firms was instilled and adopted. New production and marketing techniques were introduced in the food industry.

Small producers were forced out of the agriculture and food sector or compelled to sell their goods at lower prices.

Who Loses from Monopolization and Alienation in the Food Sector?

• First and foremost, small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises lose out; large enterprises can also be added to these, as seen in the milk crisis experienced in Turkey. Small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises are unorganized against food firms. In this situation, they are forced to sell their products to food firms for next to nothing. Moreover, with the recently accelerating contract farming model, one-sided dependency on food firms has become dominant. Some food company officials can even say, "Farmers are our spouses."

• Small and medium-sized food firms remained weak against monopolizing food firms; they were either sold or forced to close down.

• Especially in cities, the vast majority of consumers have become dependent on increasingly alienating supermarket chains.

• Industrial production has emerged in agriculture. However, industrial agriculture, in addition to the liquidation of small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises, also negatively affects environmental health.

• It also brings intercontinental and regional trade to the agenda. In this case, the additives used reduce the reliability and nutritional benefits of food.

• The transportation of food for processing or after processing across regions, countries, and even continents creates a massive energy demand.

• Food firms encourage the consumption of ready-made, fast food through advertisements. In this way, a uniform type of person who eats hamburgers, drinks cola and beer, and thinks this is what modernization means is created—or intended to be created—and different cultures are destroyed.

What is the Control of Food, or Where Has Turkey Arrived?

Agricultural policy expert Ergin Kahveci analyzed the data regarding the food retail sector in Turkey in detail in the "Retail Foods Annual-Turkey" report published by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service on June 30, 2026, and stated that the transformation in food trade concerns not only retail but also the future of agricultural production closely.

Kahveci summarized his findings as follows:

• Turkey's total retail market reached 224 billion dollars in 2025.

• Food retail accounted for 120 billion dollars of this amount.

• While approximately 370 thousand chain and independent markets operate in Turkey, the share of organized markets continues to increase every year.

• Giant organized markets reached a volume of 79.3 billion dollars in total food sales.

• The sales volume of traditional grocers and small retailers remained at 38.5 billion dollars. Online food sales rose to 2.5 billion dollars.

• The top 10 markets hold 46 percent of the market.

The top 10 market brands, consisting of BİM, Migros, A101, Şok, CarrefourSA, Seç, Ekomini, File, Hakmar, and Macrocenter, realized a total of 54.6 billion dollars in sales in 2025, taking 46 percent of the organized market sector under their control.

How to Oppose Monopolization and Alienation in the Food Sector? (*)

Fundamentally, the solution lies in producing an Import-Substituting and more egalitarian economic policy and "Agriculture and Food Policies" linked to this model. The model must also be a "Planned Development Model" that is human-nature oriented, protects the environment, provides healthy food from its natural sources, and is at peace with itself. In this context, one of the primary fundamental issues is the state's intervention in the economy for the producing majority by re-establishing public institutions.

In other words, the basic option is to turn toward independence and realize this development action based on one's own power, without obtaining the approval of capitalist centers—or more clearly, imperialists.

This proposed solution necessitates a political stance that emphasizes public ownership.

However, there are also practices that can be implemented today.

In this context, effective steps that can be taken against monopolization and alienation in the food sector include the following:

• Local and traditional agriculture should be supported: Instead of hybrid or GMO seeds, local seeds can be used to protect the region's unique agricultural heritage.

• Cooperatives should be strengthened: Cooperatives that will increase the bargaining power of farmers through direct, intermediary-free sales models should be strengthened and expanded.

• Local governments should provide support to cooperatives regarding necessary sales stalls.

• Support and community networks should be created for access to agricultural and food products: Initiatives such as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), where consumers deal directly with producers, should be implemented.

(*) I am trying to write down all these developments and possibilities as one of the agricultural and food experts who has managed to remain honest. (See: Kaymakçı, M., 2025. Turkey's Agriculture (Imperialist Attack and Solutions). Pankuş Publications; Kaymakçı M., (Ed.,) 2012. Hunger and Imperialism. İlkim Ozan Publications)