Commercial farming, national boundaries and ‘modern life’ is compromising and taking away their last remaining link to the earth—the very source of their distinct indigenous identities, culture and dignity. Food security is becoming a serious problem as indigenous peoples are coerced into becoming employees of the international food industry.

This study describes the actions of the Union of Peasant and Indigenous Organizations of Cotacachi (UNORCAC) in the conservation of agrobiodiversity in the forest and agricultural landscapes of the Cotacachi canton in Ecuador. These Indigenous systems stand out for their high biodiversity and for the agroecological approaches and traditional knowledge used.

Seeds of Sovereignty shares the stories of African communities embarking on a journey to revive their traditional seed diversity, and take back control over their food systems.

With its distinctive heart-shaped leaves, taro is traditionally cultivated by Palauan women in plots of land around the shores of this tiny Pacific country. The root crops provide a source of starch and have historically served as a symbol of wealth and an object of ceremonial exchange.

Traditionally, farmers in Lebanon depended on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to manage plant nutrition or plant pests and diseases. Most farmers believed that increasing the quantity of chemical fertilizers would increase the yields of their crops.

Indigenous Peoples’ food systems promote the equitable distribution of resources and power, and support Indigenous identities and values. Food-generative practices are often localized, making use of communal resources and supported by traditional governance systems. Exchange is often barter-based or founded on reciprocal agreements. Indigenous Peoples’ lands, waters, and resources are often used, managed, or governed collectively as a common resource under community-based management. Indigenous Peoples’ systems of collective ownership of resources and food sharing can thus support inter- and intra-community cooperation, the cultivation and maintenance of shared identities, and healthy, resilient, and culturally appropriate food systems.

Nissa Wargadipuras’s earliest memories involve learning how to live with nature. Her childhood home’s backyard in the hilly town of Garut, West Java was a little forest where her father planted vegetables, herbs and fruits. Her mother produced traditional medicine from the plants for their family and their neighbours.

This document presents some of the main challenges that indigenous women face and provide recommendations to eliminate the barriers that prevent indigenous women from achieving their full potential and their ability to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This book underscores the appeal of Indigenous cultural heritage to tourists and encourages responsible, consultative tourism development while meeting the rising interest in indigenous cultures.

With the introduction of imported, hybrid crops, many farmers across Nepal have stopped growing indigenous crops altogether. Agriculturalist Kushal Poudel is hoping to change that by reintroducing native crops through age-old farming techniques.