SHILLONG, Sep 12: A case study by the North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS) called ‘Participatory Guarantee System in Meghalaya, India’ has been included in the book Labelling and Certification Schemes for Indigenous Peoples’ Foods, launched by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on Monday.
The case study was contributed by NESFAS’ senior associate Janak Preet Singh.
In the study, he shared that indigenous peoples’ food systems are an indicator of a healthy and well-functioning, nature-positive system. However, he lamented the fact that the products derived from this system which are “Unique and Diverse” are poorly recognised and remunerated under the dominant economic system
“Aspects such as communal values and conservation of biodiversity are poorly recognised in the market and it is important to have a certification and labelling system that recognises such aspects and provides fair returns to the producers,” he stated.
Published by the FAO and Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, the book seeks to explore means by which indigenous peoples can generate viable income for their livelihood while protecting and promoting Indigenous Peoples’ values.
Although indigenous peoples (IPs) remain the main protagonists in the struggle for the sustenance of the planet, they continue to be largely marginalised.
Poverty is one of the biggest issues faced by them with 19% of the world’s poor made up of IPs in spite of their access to some of the richest biodiversities in the world. A major factor for this is the challenge faced by IPs in generating income with global trade largely inaccessible.
The book strives to recognise the rights and values of IPs and bring their voices and stories to life, according to a statement issued here. It explores how indigenous food and local food systems can be strengthened and supported while identifying different kinds of labelling and possible outcomes.
Speaking at the virtual launch of the book, Moko Morris, Māori people, Soil and Health Association of New Zealand/Hua Parakore food producer, stated, “Just as western science has destroyed the world’s natural resources; it should support the Indigenous Peoples’ solutions to recover and preserve it”.
Other than the official launch of the book, many different opinions on means of promoting indigenous foods and the producing communities through the use of specific labelswere raised.
Geographical Indication (GI) and tag of indigenous foods as one way of labelling and certifying foods to procure income and provide recognition and self-esteem towards the producing communities were also discussed in the launch event.
