Fictions and Futures #1

"Futures" are contracts traded on the commodity futures exchange that specify the future purchase or sale of tangible goods, such as precious metals or agricultural products, at a price agreed today. In theory, Futures serve as a hedge against fluctuating commodity prices. In practice, however, they are bets on the future. With the deregulation of the financial markets and the introduction of electronic trading, hedging has become a mass product. As if by an invisible hand, Futures determine the prices of basic foodstuffs and reinforce the industrial standardization of agriculture worldwide. Fictions and Futures #1 sheds light on the complex and problematic relationship between stock market speculation, food production and bioengineering.