Knowing and growing Pacific Island traditional food (knowledges) at home and in school

Vortrag

Teil der Sitzung

[FS-331] Nurturing sustainable agriculture, food and water security discourses through social relations and subjective perspectives

Sitzungstermin

Donnerstag (21. September 2023), 09:00–10:30

Sitzungsraum

SH 2.104

Autor*innen

Heide Bruckner (Universität Graz)

Matthias Kowasch (PH Steiermark)

Kurzbeschreibung

Local food systems and food sovereignty can strengthen climate resilience in Pacific Island countries, but are under-researched in practice. Based on empirical studies in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, we investigate local and Indigenous agricultural knowledge and the emotional experiences of knowing/growing food, with particular attention to the role of youth and women.

Schlagwörter

Indigenous and local knowledge, food systems, feminist political ecology, school gardens

Abstract

Pacific Island countries often make headlines for facing natural hazards such as cyclones and floods, and for their vulnerability to climate change. In face of environmental extremes and geographic isolation, local communities rely on deeply-rooted networks of food sovereignty highlighted by social exchange, mutual support and Indigenous food knowledge, and grounded in more-than-human environmental sensibilities. Such networks of food sovereignty are increasingly threatened by urban development and concurrent transformations in agricultural production systems.

To bring attention to the social and emotional aspects of local and Indigenous agricultural knowledge related to regional food security, this paper investigates the role of school gardens (in Vanuatu) and mangrove fisheries (in the Solomon Islands). Based on empirical studies in both countries in the frame of the EU Horizon 2020 project “FALAH” (family farming, lifestyle and health), we discuss women and youth-led food sovereignty examples which stand in contrast to cash crop and export-oriented realms of agriculture promoted by economic development agendas. The empirical studies include semi-structured interviews with fisherwomen, secondary school students and teachers, and a questionnaire (mixed-method approach) in five secondary schools.

In particular, we explore oft-overlooked emotional experiences of knowing/growing and harvesting Indigenous food (varieties) in both Pacific Island countries as a key element of climate resilient food systems and environmental subjectivities in situ. We also ask how school gardening can contribute to the re-valorization of local agricultural knowledge and practices within the school setting.