Biocultural Restoration for Community Food Security
Overview
Biocultural restoration in agriculture is an approach that integrates ecological restoration with the revitalization of cultural practices and relationships to the land. It is based on the concept that humans and nature are intimately linked, and that each can have a positive impact on the health of the other. From this lens, appropriate agricultural management not only procures food and resources, but also supports environmental and social outcomes. In Â鶹´«Ã½, efforts have supported cultural revitalization, language preservation, health outcomes, spiritual and emotional well-being, landscape preservation, community bonding, and educational opportunities.
Projects
Supporting community-based restoration of traditional food systems to enhance security and economic opportunities, such as developing, monitoring, and supporting agricultural plan and implementation
Planet Before Profit: Indigenous Food Systems as Models of Sustainability
Coordinated global case-studies of Indigenous Food Systems for Planetary Health. A global collaboration documenting how Indigenous food systems sustain community and planetary health. These case studies reveal the power of ancestral knowledge in shaping resilient and regenerative futures.
Biocultural Restoration in Hawai’i Special Issue
Highlights the publication of the largest collection of scientific papers by Native Hawaiians, focusing on biocultural restoration in Hawai‘i. This interdisciplinary work, involving nearly 100 authors, showcases Hawai‘i’s leadership in integrating cultural and ecological restoration practices, emphasizing the role of Native Hawaiian and female authors.
Examines how cultivating breadfruit can address key sustainability challenges in Hawai‘i, including food security, environmental degradation, and public health. The study also highlights the potential of breadfruit to offer holistic benefits, emphasizing its role in enhancing both ecological and cultural resilience in Hawai‘i.
Analyzes the role of breadfruit plantations in the Kona region of Hawai‘i, highlighting their contribution to pre-contact Hawaiian agriculture. The authors model the extent, yield, and social impact of these agroforestry systems, estimating that breadfruit plantations produced a significant caloric surplus that supported socio-political developments. The study underscores the importance of understanding agricultural variability and its influence on the region's historical trajectory.