Beyond Exotic Wet Markets

Covid-19 Ecologies in the Global Meat-Processing Industry in Brazil

Datos Bibliográficos

ID8073469
AutoresJ Segata (0000-0002-2544-0745, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, autor de correspondencia), Luiza Beck (0000-0002-6835-8370, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul), Luísa Muccillo (0000-0002-1835-3336, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul)
Año2021
Volumen20
Número1
Páginas94-114
Fecha de publicación2021-04-19
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaeTropic electronic journal of studies in the tropics (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1448-2940 • E-ISSN: 1448-2940
EditorialJames Cook University (PUBLISHER • AU)
DOI10.25120/etropic.20.1.2021.3794
OpenAlexW3156870508
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas12
Referencias citadas23

In this article we argue that the overvaluation of exotic narratives about wild animal consumption and wet markets conceals how the global agribusiness establishes unhealthy ecologies. Increasing infection rates from the new coronavirus registered among meat industry workers, their families, and the community, resulted in the suspension of several establishments in this sector in Brazil. If the meat processing industry cannot be considered entirely safe, why are risks to health, morality, and civility often represented by the unregulated practices of wet markets considered exotic? This paper shows that the global meat processing industry weaves a myriad of intimate encounters between humans, animals, highly toxic chemicals, organic waste, and precarious work relationships. They are unhealthy ecologies where coexistence, infection, risk, and death are always involved. We suggest a multispecies approach to analyse and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; instead of the exaltation of contagion and the boundaries of contention, there needs to be an effort to establish integrated policies for the health and joint care of humans, animals, and environments

Business · Civility · Consumption (sociology · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Meat packing industry · Pandemic · Political science · Social science · Sociology · Work (physics · Engineering · Geographies of human-animal interactions · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Law · Medicine · Zoonotic diseases and public health