A New Approach to Supply Chain Capitalism and Emerging Infectious Diseases

CAPIDEMIC explores the political dimensions of transnational supply chains and how they respond to sustainability challenges brought on by emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). Our research is centered on the poultry industry, which is currently under threat from the global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) – a crisis with profound economic and political implications. We examine how different stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, corporations, and farmers, navigate the complex terrain of EID management within this industry. Empirically, our research is concentrated on India, which is home to one of the world's fastest-growing poultry industries and is presently confronting an unprecedented threat from HPAI. Through qualitative methods and extensive fieldwork—ranging from industry headquarters to production facilities across India—we will systematically analyze the political, economic, and social dimensions of globally integrated agricultural systems. Led by a skilled researcher in agrarian studies and economic geography, our interdisciplinary team includes experienced scholars and early-career researchers with a keen interest in the political dimensions of agrarian change and global health governance. Our findings aim to significantly contribute to contemporary academic debates on the role of politics in natural resource industries in addressing sustainability crises in the 21st century.

CAPIDEMIC is an innovative interdisciplinary project aimed at advancing research in the fields of agrarian studies, political economy, and economic geography, focusing on the political dimensions of transnational supply chains and their response to the sustainability challenges posed by emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). Our research centers on the poultry industry, currently under threat from the global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, a sustainability crisis with significant economic and political implications, given its potential for pandemic spread. The project aims to understand the complex interplay between political structures, governance mechanisms, and economic interests in shaping responses to EIDs within the poultry supply chain. We aim to introduce a fresh perspective on "supply chain capitalism" by moving beyond abstract conceptualizations, delving into political-economic dynamics of how different actors, including governments, firms, and farmers, navigate the complex terrain of EID management. The research primarily focuses on India's poultry industry, which is experiencing rapid growth but has been overlooked in discussions on supply chain capitalism and EIDs. Responses of biotech firms supplying genetic material to India's poultry industry will also be analyzed to highlight the political and economic implications of their strategies. Through qualitative methods and extensive fieldwork, CAPIDEMIC will analyze the political, economic, and social dimensions of transnationally integrated agricultural production systems. Led by a skilled researcher with expertise in agrarian studies and economic geography, our interdisciplinary team includes experienced scholars and early-career researchers with an interest in political dimensions of agrarian change and global health governance. Our findings will contribute significantly to academic debates on the politics of natural resource industries and sustainability crises in the 21st century.