Built on Hidden Human Backs: A History of Monoculture Exploitation

This prose reflects on the long history of human exploitation in monoculture industries, from sugarcane plantations in the Caribbean and cotton fields in the American continent to today’s oil palm plantations in Southeast Asia. Although crops and labor systems have changed over time, the exploitation of workers has remained a recurring reality. Plantation workers have long supported industries and national economies, yet their labor, sacrifices, and dignity are often overlooked. Ultimately, this prose highlights that the true tragedy of monoculture is not only environmental or economic, but deeply human.