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Fishy Business? A Case Study on Ecologically Unequal Exchange in Norwegian Aquaculture

Kirkedam, Marie Heglum LU (2024) EKHS11 20241
Department of Economic History
Abstract
The current climate crisis is pressuring policymakers to outline what a post-fossil economy might entail. In Norway, many have pointed towards the salmon farming industry as a central part of the country’s green transition. At the same time, the industry has shifted towards increasing use of feed imports from Brazilian soy plantations - the second largest driver of deforestation in the country. Exploring this contradiction, this thesis aims to analyse to what extent the theoretical framework of ecologically unequal exchange (EUE) can explain the Brazilian-Norwegian trade in soy for salmon. EUE challenges neoclassical trade theory by positing that the prevailing free trade regime allows for a structural transfer of biophysical resources... (More)
The current climate crisis is pressuring policymakers to outline what a post-fossil economy might entail. In Norway, many have pointed towards the salmon farming industry as a central part of the country’s green transition. At the same time, the industry has shifted towards increasing use of feed imports from Brazilian soy plantations - the second largest driver of deforestation in the country. Exploring this contradiction, this thesis aims to analyse to what extent the theoretical framework of ecologically unequal exchange (EUE) can explain the Brazilian-Norwegian trade in soy for salmon. EUE challenges neoclassical trade theory by positing that the prevailing free trade regime allows for a structural transfer of biophysical resources from peripherical to core countries – enabling environmental degradation in the first and enhancing industrial capacity in the latter. Using a methodology based on life cycle analysis, an asymmetrical flow of the biophysical resources is observed when applied to the abovementioned trade relation. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Kirkedam, Marie Heglum LU
supervisor
organization
course
EKHS11 20241
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Ecologically Unequal Exchange, Aquaculture, Norway
language
English
id
9169343
date added to LUP
2024-10-17 09:13:04
date last changed
2024-10-17 09:13:04
@misc{9169343,
  abstract     = {{The current climate crisis is pressuring policymakers to outline what a post-fossil economy might entail. In Norway, many have pointed towards the salmon farming industry as a central part of the country’s green transition. At the same time, the industry has shifted towards increasing use of feed imports from Brazilian soy plantations - the second largest driver of deforestation in the country. Exploring this contradiction, this thesis aims to analyse to what extent the theoretical framework of ecologically unequal exchange (EUE) can explain the Brazilian-Norwegian trade in soy for salmon. EUE challenges neoclassical trade theory by positing that the prevailing free trade regime allows for a structural transfer of biophysical resources from peripherical to core countries – enabling environmental degradation in the first and enhancing industrial capacity in the latter. Using a methodology based on life cycle analysis, an asymmetrical flow of the biophysical resources is observed when applied to the abovementioned trade relation.}},
  author       = {{Kirkedam, Marie Heglum}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Fishy Business? A Case Study on Ecologically Unequal Exchange in Norwegian Aquaculture}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}