Independent Dialogue
Geographical focus:
South Africa
Main findings
We have to preserve local traditional foods and drinks and encourage sustainable consumption of such foods. They are healthier, local, and more environmental friendly, have low carbon foot prints, and provide livelihood for producers and distributors. Also we have to encourage non-rice for carbohydrate consumption.
It is important to identify and map the ingredients, cooking method, culture, recipes, traditions, and health benefits of certain foods. Indonesia has at least 100 types of carbohydrate sources, 100 kinds of nuts, 250 kinds of vegetables and 450 kinds of fruits. A mapping of Ind
... Read moreonesian traditional foods and drinks showed that there are at least 35,000 types identified, and the number is still counting.
We propose two solutions to facilitate consumer access to healthy and sustainable traditional foods, a macro and micro approach.
In a macro approach, the state/government is important in increasing consumer access to healthy and sustainable traditional foods. The state can promote healthy and sustainable traditional foods through policies, programs, promotion, building relevant infrastructure, and to reduce the distance traveled during the distribution of traditional foods to minimize carbon footprint
In a micro approach, the community as an agent of information dissemination can disseminate the positive impact of healthy and sustainable traditional food. After that, people can also provide places that provide the food to be distributed to those in the surrounding environment. .
It is important to provide education and information to consumers regarding local food products, the health benefits, the processing methods and food safety of local food products, through an attractive and easy-to-understand physical and digital display *social media).
Food gardens should be encouraged in communities, government offices, schools and university campuses along with education about local food through planting, harvesting, and cooking together. Read less