Way(s) that Carole is dependent on Perdue
The significance of resources Carole relies on Perdue for necessary supplies is consistent with the Resource Need Paradigm’s first assumption, highlighting how vital external resources are to an organization’s survival. Carole’s chicken farming business depends on Perdue for its essential needs of chicks, feed, and market access, highlighting the crucial role that external dependencies play in this process(Govoni et al., 2021).
Authority over Resource: Perdue has considerable influence over the conditions of Carole’s contract. It is clear from the documentary that she refused to utilize certain chicken homes, leading to the termination of her contract. Perdue’s control over pricing, production techniques, and contractual terms highlights the company’s advantageous power dynamics.
Concentration of Material Control: Carole has a comparatively low concentration of resource control. Carole might have few product marketing options if Perdue dominates the poultry industry. Canceling her contract further proves individual farmers’ vulnerability under the more extensive corporate agriculture system. According to (Azadi et al., 2021), a concentration of power has resulted from the consolidation of agribusinesses, giving farmers few options and making them vulnerable to the decisions made by these large companies.
Way(S) That Perdue Is Dependent on Carole
Being a big agricultural enterprise, Perdue likewise depends on Carole and the other contract farmers in its network.
The significance of resources: Perdue depends on Carole and other contracted producers to provide a steady and adequate supply of broilers to meet market requirements. The output and dependability of Perdue’s network of contract cultivators are critical to the company’s profitability.
Discretion over Resource: Although Perdue is in charge of the agreement’s conditions, the business needs a network of farmers, including Carole, to keep output levels high. The end of Carole’s contract could cause problems for Perdue’s operations and the supply chain.
Concentration of Control over Resources: The problems that come with Perdue’s reliance on a small number of suppliers could materialize whether Carole and other producers make up a sizable share of the company’s supply chain. They must diversify within their network to lessen such disruptions (Govindan et al., 2021).
Whether this Relationship Can be Characterized as an Asymmetrically Interdependent Relationship
Describing Carole Morison and Perdue’s relationship as asymmetrically interdependent would be accurate. As the backbone of Carole’s chicken farming operation, Perdue provides her with essential resources, including chicks, chick feed, and market access. The power relations between Carole and Perdue highlight the second assumption of the Resource Dependence Paradigm. Even though Carole makes decisions for her farming operation, external factors significantly limit her authority. The fact that Perdue terminated her contract is a clear example of the limitations placed on her ability to make decisions by the acts of the outside party she depends on. The difference in power is representative of the usual dynamics between suppliers and buyers in the agricultural industry sector, where smaller farmers heavily depend on larger firms that control necessary resources (Scheitrum & Schaefer, 2021).
In summary, “Food, Inc.’s portrayal of Carole’s attachment to Perdue is an excellent example of the complex dependency dynamics outlined by resource dependence theory. The relationship’s unequal interdependence highlights the power disparities in the agriculture industry system and calls into question other models prioritizing farmer autonomy, ecological responsibility, and moral behavior. Carole’s contract termination serves as a sobering reminder of the risks in this system that individual farmers face. However, Carole’s tenacity and later venture into self-sufficient farming highlight the possibility of other, more sustainable agricultural approaches.
References
Azadi, H., Moghaddam, S. M., Burkart, S., Mahmoudi, H., Van Passel, S., Kurban, A., & Lopez-Carr, D. (2021). Rethinking resilient agriculture: From climate-smart agriculture to vulnerable-smart agriculture. Journal of Cleaner Production, 319, 128602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128602
Govindan, K., Shaw, M., & Majumdar, A. (2021). Social sustainability tensions in the multi-tier supply chain: A systematic literature review towards conceptual framework development. Journal of cleaner production, p. 279, 123075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123075
Govoni, C., Chiarelli, D. D., Luciano, A., Ottoboni, M., Perpelek, S. N., Pinotti, L., & Rulli, M. C. (2021). Global assessment of natural resources for chicken production. Advances in Water Resources, 154, 103987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2021.103987
Scheitrum, D. P., & Schaefer, K. A. (2021). Farm Animal Enclosure Requirements, Industry Concentration, and Supply Chain Dynamics. Frontiers in Animal Science, 2, 709359. https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2021.709359
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