“Ethical Markets highly recommends the global efforts of FOODTANK and Danielle Nierenberg, editor of “Nourished Planet“ and in particular this recognition of indigenous people and the crops they have nurtured for centuries. These plant species are now needed to diversify our current agrochemical industrial food supply too dependent only on the planet’s 3% of freshwater.
Recognizing indigenous farmers is now essential and restoring many of these overlooked crops which can be add to many local food systems. We report on all these trends and the shift of investments needed to utilize many of these nutrient-rich plants, which also capture CO2 efficiently and can improve human nutrition, in our Green Transition Scoreboard 2018 “Capturing CO2 While Improving Human Nutrition & Health“. My favorites are jackfruit and quinoa!
~ Hazel Henderson, Editor“
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Greetings from New Orleans!
On August 9, Food Tank is celebrating the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples by highlighting indigenous peoples’ contributions to biodiversity.
Of the roughly 7,000 edible plant species humankind used as food, more than 90 percent have disappeared from farmers’ fields. Thankfully, indigenous peoples around the globe are preserving these disappearing crop varieties with time-tested farming practices and agricultural knowledge. The biodiversity these farmers work to conserve is key to building resilient food systems that can withstand climate change effects and enhance food security.
To recognize indigenous peoples’ role in building a more resilient food system, Food Tank is spotlighting 30 traditional crops contributing to global biodiversity: argan, arracacha, bambara bean, buckwheat, bush tomato, chayote, cherimoya, chicory, desert lime, fenugreek, finger millet, grass pea, hemp, jackfruit, kakadu plum, locust bean, maca, manoomin, marama, marula tree, mung bean, orache, pejibaye, purslane, ricebean, sorghum, tepary bean, wattleseed, winged bean, and yaxox.
Protecting indigenous peoples requires preserving their right to maintain their foodways and traditional growing practices. Organizations with fair trade standards and social missions can help eaters seek out these crops both sustainably and ethically.
Read more about these crops improving resilience in the food system by CLICKING HERE.
How does your community support indigenous peoples, their food ways, and their agricultural knowledge? Please email me at [email protected] to share with us!
Sincerely,
Danielle NierenbergRead More