Today, energy drinks, such as Dark Dog and Red Bull have become a worldwide phenomenon. The food processing multinationals are investing heavily in selling these new drinks to a whole new generation, advertising them as miracle products because of the energy boost they provide.
The main ingredient in these beverages is guarana, a plant native to Amazonia, which is very rich in caffeine.
But behind these drinks lies the phenomenon of globalization bringing two attitudes, and consequently two possible paths for our future, face to face: that of fair trade linked to integrated farming, and that of the big food production industry, which is marketing these drinks on a worldwide scale.
In the heart of Amazonia, the Satere-Mawe Indians have been growing guarana for centuries and consume it every day. At the present time, they are the sole custodians of the original gene pool of guarana, a plant they consider to be sacred. With the help of fair trade organizations, they have become the independent producers of this product, encircled by numerous multinationals.
Through the prism of their story, their struggle becomes our own.