ABSTRACT
Philanthrocapitalism, deviating from previous practices of philanthropy and of neoliberalism, pervades global approaches to education, public health, and agriculture. This chapter analyses its offensive against farmers’ integrated seed systems through the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, directed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Philanthrocapitalism endeavours to place national and international public institutions and their policies, along with technological advancements, under control of corporate hierarchical, non-transparent command. It seeks to leverage public funds to advance private goals, while keeping all risks—social, environmental, financial—in the public domain. Successful in resistance to this offensive, people-centred critical development, such as smallholder farmer networks, is creating options that are sustainable and economically viable, and offer the future of biodiverse food.
