Climate
From the farm to your door: How our global food system exploits workers
Publication: Grist
Author: Joseph Lee
Source published: 08/10/2026, 08:30:00 UTC
Briefing created: 08/10/2026, 08:47:46 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 08/10/2026, 08:30:24 UTC.
Briefings
A 2026 report by the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) identifies deep systemic exploitation in the global food system, affecting 1.4 billion people. Key findings include that 60-80% of food workers are informally employed earning half the wage of conventional workers, with 30% earning below a living wage. The report links these conditions to colonial legacies, forced labor, and climate change, noting that Indigenous workers face disproportionate displacement and abuse. While New York's Los Deliveristas Unidos has won some protections, the report argues that protecting workers is essential for managing climate change without increasing food prices.
Key points
- The International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) released a report in October 2026 identifying that 30% of food system workers earn less than a living wage, affecting over 400 million people globally.
- Indigenous workers are disproportionately vulnerable to displacement and abuse, with the report noting that forced labor and colonial legacies drive exploitative conditions in the global food system.
Context and limitations
The report covers global food system workers but does not specifically focus on Indigenous peoples, though it notes their heightened vulnerability. Data on forced labor conditions is estimated at 2.1 million people, and the report does not provide specific dates for the 2026 publication or the exact release date of the IPES-Food document.
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