Environmental change and food security: the special case of small island developing states

Lowitt, Kristen; Ville, Arlette Saint; Lewis, P. R.; Hickey, Gordon M.

doi:10.1007/s10113-015-0849-3

Cited by 20 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Food security is one of the main issues for SIDS that determines their vulnerability and resilience (Allen 2015 ). According to Lowitt et al (Lowitt et al 2015 ): “Global and regional economic and environmental change processes […] can have very serious implications for household food and nutrition security, potentially affecting the sustainability of fishing and farming systems and the health of the island populations that depend on them for food, nutrition and livelihoods” (p. 1296). The intersection of metabolic and economic aspects is, therefore, directly connected to the consequences for food security.…”

Section: Discussion: Four Socio-metabolic Vulnerabilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analyzing Socio-Metabolic Vulnerability: Evidence from the Comoros Archipelago

2022

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Small island developing states are often characterized as vulnerable owing to their unique geographies of smallness and remoteness, resource insecurity, and more recently from the impacts of climate change. These vulnerabilities are often manifested in resource insecurity, significant imports, poor waste management, and the inability to develop economies of scale. In effect, sustaining small islands in an era of global environmental change is a task both scholars and policy makers are increasingly grappling with. Can small islands be sustainable? This research examines the social metabolism of an island system, and introduces the concept of “socio-metabolic vulnerability”. As such, this research provides novel insights into the linkages between patterns of resource-use, systemic risks and vulnerability. Results from a local material and energy flow analysis (local-MEFA) for the island of Ndzuwani (Comoros) suggest a very low level of resource-use but at the same time heavy reliance on critical imports that cover vast distances, that are vulnerable to price and climate shocks. Informal activities in resource extraction play an important role in lending both vulnerability and resilience to Ndzuwani. This study adds to the scarce body of literature that argues that small island economies would need to leverage resource-use patterns to build system resilience, along with bold policies and institutions that support material circularity, engage communities and fosters frugal innovation.

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Section: Discussion: Four Socio-metabolic Vulnerabilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analyzing Socio-Metabolic Vulnerability: Evidence from the Comoros Archipelago

2022

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“…From a social learning perspective, the implementation of food security policy objectives through a top-down process would need to be replaced by a cooperative approach in which all actors assume responsibilities for reaching shared policy goals (Fiorino, 2011). Achieving an integrated food security policy will likely require a new role for CARICOM national governments and regional institutions in which they can use their different authorities in ways that support participation and interaction among diverse stakeholders at different levels of the food-related policy system (Fiorino, 2001;Lowitt, Saint Ville, Lewis, & Hickey, 2015b;Lowitt et al, 2015c;Saint Ville et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussion: Towards Regional Food Security Policy Integrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges and opportunities for more integrated regional food security policy in the Caribbean Community

Lowitt

Ville

Keddy

et al. 2016

Regional Studies, Regional Science

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The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is an economic grouping of 15 countries with a common colonial history. Most CARICOM nations are also small island developing states (SIDS), characterized by their small size, insularity, proneness to natural disasters, limited land availability and ABSTRACT the caribbean community (caRicoM) has recognized regional integration as an important development strategy for addressing the unique vulnerabilities of its member small island developing states (SidS). Food security in the caribbean is a fundamental social and ecological challenge in which the dynamics of regional integration are increasingly playing out. caRicoM members have subsequently identified a number of shared food security problems and have endorsed regional goals and approaches to address them; however, progress towards solutions has been slow. Recognizing that evidence-based studies on the potential factors limiting sustained progress are lacking, we undertook a comparative policy analysis to understand better the various approaches and framings of food security at national and regional levels with a view to assessing coherence. We identify considerable divergence in how regional and local policy institutions frame and approach food security problems in caRicoM and then identify ways through which the policy integration objectives for enhanced regional food security might be progressed, with a particular focus on social learning.

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“…We then discuss ways in which collaborations between Bahamian and international scientists, as well as with Bahamian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the Government of The Bahamas, drive additional local economic activity. This study builds on previous reflections of the relationships between science and society for other small island developing nations-countries that share many common challenges for sustainable development (Wong 2011, Lowitt et al 2015, Mycoo 2018, Walshe and Stancioff 2018, Moore 2019, Rao and McNaughton 2019.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Direct Economic Inputs from Internationally Funded Science Projects to the Abaco Islands, The Bahamas

Layman

Maura

Giery

et al. 2022

Caribbean Journal of Science

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International expenditures for scientific research are important for small island developing nations, especially for those local communities that directly support research activities.We used the Abaco Islands, The Bahamas, as a case study to quantify the direct monetary inputs to a local economy via internationally-funded scientific research. We found that over two years the external monetary influx was $995,310, via 24 research teams, that was spent across diverse business sectors on Abaco. A direct survey approach ensured this was a conservative estimate, leaving out numerous indirect economic impacts, thereby suggesting the actual monetary infusion was significantly higher. The highest expenditures were for services (e.g., local salaries and boat guides), lodging, food/drink, and major equipment (e.g., vehicles). In addition to the researchbased contributions that give rise to conservation and management decision-making, scientific activity brings benefits through the injection of money into local island economies. This relationship warrants study at larger regional scales, including across The Bahamas archipelago.

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Environmental change and food security: the special case of small island developing states

Cited by 20 publications

References 40 publications

Analyzing Socio-Metabolic Vulnerability: Evidence from the Comoros Archipelago

Analyzing Socio-Metabolic Vulnerability: Evidence from the Comoros Archipelago

Challenges and opportunities for more integrated regional food security policy in the Caribbean Community

Direct Economic Inputs from Internationally Funded Science Projects to the Abaco Islands, The Bahamas

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