What new information or knowledge did you learn from this presentation?

The speaker’s analysis of the relationship between neo-extractivism, specifically mining, and small-scale agriculture in Bolivia offered a unique perspective about the global food system. I particularly appreciated his exploration into the contradictions and complexities of the President of Bolivia’s plan to use extraction to combat extractivism. For instance, while the government has increased their revenue by raising taxes from 18-50% on mining, and developed food sovereignty programs such as the National Vegetable Program and Strengthening Potato Production Program, local citizens who rely on agriculture as a primary form of income are burdened by a system not based on their interests. To illustrate, citizens in the case study site find themselves squeezed between mining and agriculture, both economically as mining becomes more lucrative than their traditional farming practices, and physically as their farmland becomes encroached upon by a developing extractive frontier. Additionally, while food sovereignty programs seem positive on the surface, in reality, some are founded on the use of patented, non-native seeds with specific industrial inputs that are not practical and prevent locals from legally selling their crops at local markets.

Are there particular aspects of the presentation you enjoyed or intrigued you and are there others that you think could have been improved?

I particularly admired the complexity of this topic, and how well Dr. McKay presented the material in an in-depth, yet accessible way. The presentation itself was well structured in that it provided an adequate foundation of complex topics like neo-extractivism, food sovereignty, and the political climate in Bolivia related to industrial development, food sovereignty policy, all of which framed the more specific case study site. Relatedly, there was a strong theoretical underpinning to the presentation material, and the speaker referenced key scholars, authors, and economist throughout the presentation, which added depth.

Are there components of the research that would be applicable or relevant to your own Master’s research?

Both the speaker’s research and my own have a large section framing the context for the research, and I take inspiration from the presentation storyline used to thread together often seemingly abstract theories to a specific case study. The delivery of the presentation was also applicable, in that he used power point in a very effective way, limiting the amount of text, and using a lot of photos to make the case study site more relatable.

How well did the speaker respond to questions and is there a question you would have asked given the opportunity?

The speaker answered all of the questions very thoroughly, often offering additional examples from his own experience in Bolivia and Latin America more generally. Additionally, each question varied in topic, from surface and subsurface land rights to local resistance. Given the opportunity, I would ask about Dr. McKay’s methods. He alluded to three trips thus far to Bolivia, and I would be interested in the type of data collection being used, and his participant criteria, particularly whether they include government officials.