In food production, does it compete with the chicken? (8)
I believe the answer is:
eggplant
'in food' is the definition.
'eggplant' can be an answer for 'food' (eggplant is a kind of food). I am not certain of the 'in' bit.
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for eggplant that I've seen before include "Vegetable" , "US name for aubergine" , "Another word for aubergine" , "What goes into moussaka" , "Its fruit is aubergine" .)