Mark Leonard said technology and food are among seven strategic domains that could reshape the global economy.
These identified sectors represent a shift in how nations compete for influence. As emerging industries evolve, the control of these specific resources and innovations may determine which countries hold the most economic power in the coming years.
Leonard, the director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, presented this concept during Brazil Week. The series of events focused on various market and business issues currently impacting Brazil.
He said these areas are new "fields of battle" [1]. According to Leonard, there are seven such strategic domains in total [1]. While technology and food are highlighted, the broader framework suggests that these sectors are no longer just about trade; they are tools of strategic competition.
This perspective shifts the view of food security and tech development from public service or commercial goals to matters of national security. The competition for dominance in these fields could lead to new alliances, or trade restrictions, as nations seek to protect their interests in these critical domains.
“Technology and food are among seven strategic domains that could reshape the global economy.”
The framing of food and technology as strategic battlefields suggests a move toward 'geoeconomics,' where economic tools are used to achieve geopolitical goals. For countries like Brazil, which is a global powerhouse in food production, this transition could either increase their diplomatic leverage or make them targets of strategic competition from other global powers.
