Paper short abstract:

In the North-West Region of Mount Kenya horticultural companies produce food for export markets. By looking at formal and informal rules and regulations that regulate how food is produced at a selected company I analyse which social, economic and ecological impacts of such a production.

Paper long abstract:

In the North-West Region of Mount Kenya horticultural companies produce food for export markets. My in-depth anthropological research of such a horticultural production company looks at formal and informal rules and regulations that regulate how food is produced at the selected company and which social, economic and ecological impacts this has. By looking at power relations, narratives, effects of national and international laws and policies, product standards and certifications I explore how these rules and regulations are formed and negotiated, and who benefits in which way from the thereby formed formal and informal institutional settings. While the management of the company is expected to have a rather strong bargaining position, it considers itself constricted between consumer demands, national and international regulations and different forms of resistance by local laborers. On the other side, laborers with little bargaining power and accordingly unfavorable working conditions can benefit from working for such a company if they find ways to deal with these conditions and earning cash as starting capital for other forms of income.