Ecologically sustainable and socially equitable food systems are central to addressing pressing global food issues such as food security, socio-economic inequality, climate change mitigation, biodiversity loss and the unsustainable management of wild ecosystems and agroecosystems. However, current food system programming in post-secondary/higher education lacks the thorough integration of indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge systems (I/TEK), epistemologies, and practices, which have been developed and honed over generations by indigenous and local communities and have proven to be effective in sustaining ecosystems and food production. This proposal aims to address the critical need to meaningfully integrate I/TEK and practices in higher education to create a pathway for revitalizing and strengthening sustainable, culturally relevant, and socially equitable food systems.

The primary objective of this special Research Topic is to explore the opportunities and challenges of integrating I/TEK and practice in higher education for sustainable food systems. Specifically, this Research Topic aims to:
• Survey the status of I/TEK integration for sustainable food systems in higher education
• Describe opportunities and challenges of integrating I/TEK in higher education systems
• Quantify the benefits of I/TEK in higher education for sustainable food systems
• Provide case studies and recommendations for integrating I/TEK in higher education for sustainable food systems

This Research Topic proposes a multidisciplinary approach to study the integration of traditional ecological knowledge and practice in higher education for sustainable food systems.

We welcome international submissions on a broad range of topics in the form of research articles, case studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, policy and practice reviews, perspective and opinion pieces related to the integration of traditional and indigenous ecological knowledge and practice in post-secondary food systems education. Topics may include, but are not limited to the following:
• Methods of integrating I/TEK and western science in higher food systems education
• Reconciling epistemologies/ways of knowing in higher food systems education
• Experiential and hands on learning of I/TEK in higher food systems education
• Academic and community partnerships in integrating I/TEK in higher food systems education
• Case studies of the integration of I/TEK in higher food systems education
• Critical analysis of systemic limitations for strengthening I/TEK in higher food systems education
• Quantitative analysis of the social and ecological impacts of integrating I/TEK in higher food systems education

The integration of traditional ecological knowledge and practice in higher education is essential to the advancement of sustainable food systems. This article collection aims to contribute to the discourse on I/TEK and provide recommendations to address the challenges and create opportunities for the transformation of higher education systems through the integration of multi-epistemological approaches, ecological sustainability, restorative justice and social equity. This Research Topic will serve as a comprehensive reference for scholars, researchers, and practitioners interested in sustainable food systems and the integration of traditional ecological knowledge and practices in higher education.

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Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

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