Corporate Capture Fact Sheet #1: Big Agribusiness

Download the Fact Sheet here.

Big money and corporate power dictate how agricultural workers are treated, how our food is grown, whether family farmers are able to earn a living, and whether rural communities thrive or decline. From crop producers and dairy farms to tobacco companies and meat processors, almost every sector of the agricultural industry is dominated by a handful of giant multinational corporations. These powerful companies have built a well-oiled political influence machine.

In just the last decade, big agribusiness spent over $1.5 billion dollars lobbying the federal government and poured over $650 million dollars into influencing the outcomes of our elections. Outside of this stream of money, the revolving door between big agribusiness and the federal government swings freely. It allows industry powerhouses to infiltrate the government, harness insider knowledge and connections with former government officials.

​This has given the industry and its allies the political power to manipulate government policy in their favor and sabotage progress on a host of social justice issues. As a result, corporate profits grow at the expense of small farmers, workers' rights, taxpayers, public health, food safety and the environment.

Read our Big Agribusiness Fact Sheet to learn more about how the industry exercises its influence over government, to explore concrete examples of the real-world harm this has caused, and to see an overview of key policy solutions.

To learn even more about corporate capture and our recommended legislative & policy solutions, visit our Capitol, Inc. Campaign website and read our full Policy Memo.