Indigenous food systems as pathways to nutrition, health and resilience

Reducing hunger and improving nutrition remain key developmental priorities in India, however, despite substantial economic prosperity, slow progress has been demonstrated. Poor nutrition levels are attributed to unhealthy diets which are calorie-dense, convenience-based and lacking in micronutrients. The challenge is exacerbated manifold for the poor and marginalised, more so amongst the indigenous communities inhabiting remote and conflict-ridden rural areas. Climate change is further aggravating the situation by pushing people into states of vulnerability and inequity.

Tribal or indigenous communities in India co-exist in biodiverse lands and rely on their traditional food and knowledge systems, seen to be of high nutritive value. Gradual alienation from their environment and invisibility of traditional foods from the policy space has however led to the stigmatization and gradual erosion of indigenous peoples’ knowledges and practices, marginalizing their voices in the process. Approaches that focus on generating and co-producing localised contextual knowledge on healthy diets are largely absent.

Using a case of Santal communities in India, our research seeks to create a platform for documentation and exchange of knowledge on sustainable food systems using various creative and participatory tools. Working with an interdisciplinary consortium of NGO partners, researchers, nutritionists, and Santal youth, we investigated the nutritional components of locally available and affordable traditional foods and designed nutritionally adequate recipes to form a Santal recipe book. Translation of these recipes among the communities as cooking demonstration workshops by the Santal youth have created conversations around biodiversity loss, shown an improvement in nutrition related knowledge, attitudes and practices among participants, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions for nutrition literacy and healthier dietary practices. Our research contributes to building a pathway to food security and nutrition in India, that goes beyond agriculture to focus on a holistic food system, ensuring resilience and sustainability of the ecosystem.