Food, agrobiodiversity and diet: the nutritional ethnobiology of the Minangkabau and Mandailing indigenous food systems in West Sumatra

Ing. Lukáš Pawera

Doctoral thesis

Abstract:

The overall goal of the present doctoral study was to improve the diet and nutrition of the matrilineal Minangkabau and patrilineal Mandailing rural farming communities in West Sumatra by promoting the more efficient use of agrobiodiversity and local foods. The study objectives were to assess the diets and food security in relation to socio-ecological characteristics, and to document the diversity of food plants and characterise their importance nutritionally and ethnobotanically. The study applied multiple research disciplines and methods from ethnobotany, anthropology, and nutrition. It used a mixed-method approach through which we interviewed 200 individual women at reproductive age and 68 participants during 4 focus group discussions. The data collection included information on socio-economy; food security; food consumption; health basics; attitudes and perceptions; local knowledge; and agrobiodiversity levels and trends in use. The dietary assessment showed that less than half of women reached the minimum dietary diversity (at least 5 consumed food groups). Around two-thirds of women reached recommended dietary allowances (RDA) of macronutrients (energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate), but only a minority reached RDA of micronutrients. The least met RDA were found of folate (reached by 4%), calcium (reached by 9%), vitamin A (reached by 12%), and iron (reached by 16%). Overall, the mean adequacy ratio (MAR) aggregated for 9 nutrients was 0.64, meaning that the diet was adequate by 64%. Tracing the food acquisition pathways revealed that around two-thirds of the consumed nutrients came from markets. However, multiple linear regression showed that the strongest predictor of dietary adequacy was the richness of cultivated food crops. Although there is a transition from obtaining food from natural food environments (cultivated and wild places) to built food environment (local markets), the vast majority of consumed foods were traditional foods. The comparison revealed that despite having slightly higher food insecurity, Mandailing women had better dietary outcomes. The ethnobotanical assessment found that for both ethnics, cocoa agroforestry was a land-use with the highest food plant diversity, and at the same time, cocoa farming was the main source of income. A total of 131 food plant species, corresponding to 167 plant folk foods, were documented. Minangkabau community stewarded a higher diversity of both cultivated and wild food plants than the Mandailing. Both communities perceived local agrobiodiversity positively, but numerous threats and drivers of change have been identified. The main drivers of change were the decreased availability of food plants (mainly due to agricultural intensification) and livelihood and lifestyle changes. On the contrary, the main motivations for continuous use of food plant diversity were that they are obtained for free or at a low cost, and that they are perceived as tasty natural and unpolluted foods. Comparing two societies with different culture and kinship showed that customary governance and matrilineal descent appear to contribute to the conservation of food plant diversity but not to dietary outcomes which are determined rather by ethnic food habits and characteristics of the food environment. The research phase of the study formed a solid base for the applied intervention, which became evidence-based and addressed the actual dietary needs by sharing knowledge and raising awareness on food biodiversity through multi-stakeholder events and community publications. Overall, the study was perceived well by the communities and governments, and it is expected to have a positive impact on nutrition, health, agrobiodiversity, and agriculture resilience. The study was aligned with the National Development Plan of Indonesia, and it contributed to the goals of Aichi Biodiversity Targets, Convention on Biological Diversity, and Sustainable Development Goal 2.

Keywords

nutrition, dietary diversity, traditional foods, food environment, ethnobotany

Jazyk práce: English

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 22. 3. 2021

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedúci: doc. Ing. Zbyněk Polesný, Ph.D.
• Oponent: Jaroslav Havlík, Ph.D., doc. Ing., Edmond Dounias, Bc., externi, Gudrun Keding, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Doctoral programme / odbor:
Agricultural Specialization / Tropical Agrobiology and Bioresource Management