The Spice of Life: The Fundamental Role of Diversity on the Farm and on the Plate
Seth Cook
The world is witnessing major shifts in dietary patterns and--in parallel--a signficant threat to agricultural biodiversity. The implications for human health and the resilience of our food systems are far reaching. As this paper shows, these two phenomena are interconnected. It calls for action to reverse these trends, in order to put diversity back in our farming systems and on our plates and to preserve it where it still exists. Drawing on literature review, action research, innovation and multi-stakeholder platforms in Indonesia, Uganda, Zambia and Bolivia are part of the Sustainable Diets for All Programme coordinated by Hivos, IIED and partners, the paper explores how this situation has come about and suggest what can be done. Its aim is to inform policymakers, agriculturalists and civil society working on these issues.
Publication Details
- Publisher: IIED
- Dewey Decimal: 333.951
- ECHO Library: 333.951 IIE