Indigenous peoples, the gatekeepers of cultural diversity, often reside in rich biodiverse areas and possess rich traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) handed on through generations. Indigenous foods (IFs), accessed as part of traditional food systems and consumed by indigenous people globally, are derived from natural ecosystems and are thus perceived to be sustainable. These food systems harbor nutritious foods better adapted to local conditions and are climate resilient with low carbon footprints. However, indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by malnutrition and diet-related health problems, with women and young children suffering the greater burden. Regrettably, Indigenous peoples are gradually shifting to modern diets, and factors like rapid loss of TEK, climate and land-use changes, and dominant industrial agriculture threaten their food systems, leading to environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and unhealthy consumption patterns which are further exacerbating their already fragile well-being.
Realizing the immense potential of indigenous food systems for contributing to optimal health and nutrition, as well as propagation of biodiversity, this particular Research Topic will focus on documentation of indigenous food systems from across the globe with a specific focus on the nutritive value of indigenous foods, and their contribution to food security and nutrient intake and nutritional status of communities. Also, among these communities especially in the LMICs, the role of food systems in offsetting dietary transitions and the double burden of malnutrition is gaining the attention of policy makers. Therefore documentation of specific interventions that are attempting to mainstream indigenous food systems into the food based interventions to address malnutrition will also be included.
The scope of this Research Topic will include manuscripts that deal with:
1. Approaches for systematic documentation of indigenous food systems
2. Indigenous food systems and agroforestry diversity
3. Nutritive value of indigenous foods/ nutrient composition and anti-nutrient factors in indigenous foods
4. The value chain analysis of indigenous foods of specific communities
5. Social and cultural attributes of indigenous foods and how these can be leveraged to contribute to better uptake of these foods among communities
6. Scope of contribution of indigenous diets to food security
7. Contribution of indigenous foods and diets to dietary diversity
8. Indigenous food consumption and their association with biomarkers; biomarkers for evaluation of nutritional status in indigenous communities; and impact of indigenous food based interventions on biomarkers
9. Interventions that have shown promise for increasing utilization of indigenous foods
10. Trials on interventions promoting indigenous food consumption
Indigenous peoples, the gatekeepers of cultural diversity, often reside in rich biodiverse areas and possess rich traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) handed on through generations. Indigenous foods (IFs), accessed as part of traditional food systems and consumed by indigenous people globally, are derived from natural ecosystems and are thus perceived to be sustainable. These food systems harbor nutritious foods better adapted to local conditions and are climate resilient with low carbon footprints. However, indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by malnutrition and diet-related health problems, with women and young children suffering the greater burden. Regrettably, Indigenous peoples are gradually shifting to modern diets, and factors like rapid loss of TEK, climate and land-use changes, and dominant industrial agriculture threaten their food systems, leading to environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and unhealthy consumption patterns which are further exacerbating their already fragile well-being.
Realizing the immense potential of indigenous food systems for contributing to optimal health and nutrition, as well as propagation of biodiversity, this particular Research Topic will focus on documentation of indigenous food systems from across the globe with a specific focus on the nutritive value of indigenous foods, and their contribution to food security and nutrient intake and nutritional status of communities. Also, among these communities especially in the LMICs, the role of food systems in offsetting dietary transitions and the double burden of malnutrition is gaining the attention of policy makers. Therefore documentation of specific interventions that are attempting to mainstream indigenous food systems into the food based interventions to address malnutrition will also be included.
The scope of this Research Topic will include manuscripts that deal with:
1. Approaches for systematic documentation of indigenous food systems
2. Indigenous food systems and agroforestry diversity
3. Nutritive value of indigenous foods/ nutrient composition and anti-nutrient factors in indigenous foods
4. The value chain analysis of indigenous foods of specific communities
5. Social and cultural attributes of indigenous foods and how these can be leveraged to contribute to better uptake of these foods among communities
6. Scope of contribution of indigenous diets to food security
7. Contribution of indigenous foods and diets to dietary diversity
8. Indigenous food consumption and their association with biomarkers; biomarkers for evaluation of nutritional status in indigenous communities; and impact of indigenous food based interventions on biomarkers
9. Interventions that have shown promise for increasing utilization of indigenous foods
10. Trials on interventions promoting indigenous food consumption