Multiple non-climatic drivers of food insecurity reinforce climate change maladaptation trajectories among Peruvian Indigenous Shawi in the Amazon

Abstract

BackgroundClimate change is affecting food systems globally, with implications for food security, nutrition, and the health of human populations. There are limited data characterizing the current and future consequences of climate change on local food security for populations already experiencing poor nutritional indicators. Indigenous Amazonian populations have a high reported prevalence of nutritional deficiencies. This paper characterizes the food system of the Shawi of the Peruvian Amazon, climatic and non-climatic drivers of their food security vulnerability to climate change, and identifies potential maladaptation trajectories.Methods and findingsSemi-structured interviews with key informants (n = 24), three photovoice workshops (n = 17 individuals), transect walks (n = 2), a food calendar exercise, and two community dissemination meetings (n = 30 individuals), were conducted within two Shawi communities in Balsapuerto District in the Peruvian Loreto region between June and September of 2014. The Shawi food system was based on three main food sub-systems (forest, farming and externally-sourced). Shawi reported collective, gendered, and emotional notions related to their food system activities. Climatic and non-climatic drivers of food security vulnerability among Shawi participants acted at proximal and distal levels, and mutually reinforced key maladaptation trajectories, including: 1) a growing population and natural resource degradation coupled with limited opportunities to increase incomes, and 2) a desire for education and deforestation reinforced by governmental social and food interventions.ConclusionA series of maladaptive trajectories have the potential to increase social and nutritional inequities for the Shawi. Transformational food security adaptation should include consideration of Indigenous perceptions and priorities, and should be part of Peruvian food and socioeconomic development policies.

Experiences and Drivers of Food Insecurity in Guatemala's Dry Corridor: Insights From the Integration of Ethnographic and Household Survey Data

“…Livelihood decisions, economic and social circumstances also mediate the exposure and vulnerability of households to dynamic stressors such as climate (consecutive drought), labor availability, and market prices. This observed transmission of risk and impact between non-climatic and climatic factors corroborates with ethnographical research on food insecurity in other regions in Latin America (Zavaleta et al, 2018). Purely relying on survey data may lead to interventions that are technical, but not holistic.…”

The influence of emergency food aid on the causal disaster vulnerability of remote Indigenous food systems: a case study of the Bedamuni of Western Province, Papua New Guinea

“…However, as the concept of food systems continues to gain traction, there is an urgent need to better conceptualise them as a form of SES in different geographical and cultural contexts. To date, food systems have been primarily explored in market-oriented societies (see reviews by Meyer 2020, Prosperi et al 2016, with only a few studies exploring subsistence dominated and economically disconnected Indigenous cultures (e.g., Bakhit and Hayati 1995, Jacobi et al 2018, Torres-Vitolas et al 2019, Zavaleta et al 2018. A further significant gap relates to ensuring the many critical insights from the theoretically and empirically rich disaster studies literature on causalor root causes ofvulnerability (e.g., Blaike et al 1994, Burton et al 1978, Hewitt 1983, Oliver-Smith et al 2016, Wisner et al 2003 are considered in the bourgeoning food systems disturbance literature (see Dilley and Boudreau 2001 for food security example).…”

“…Furthermore, a growing number of SES studies have explored drivers such as economic globalisation and climate change (Ford andSmit 2004, Ford et al 2013), land dispossession (Sharma et al 2015), and other non-climatic drivers (Bakhit and Hayati 1995, Turner et al 2013, Zavaleta et al 2018. However, most mainstream research only considers recent disturbances (e.g., drought or price rises) when exploring manifestations of food insecurity.…”

“…There is a significant literature concerning food security, the key expression of food system vulnerability (e.g., Barrett 2010, Maxwell and Slater 2003, Jacobi et al 2018, Moragues-Faus et al 2017, Zavaleta et al 2018. Building from Sen (1981) authors have continued to demonstrate lack of entitlements and access constraints as the key determinants of food insecurity as opposed to lack of availability.…”

“…Nonetheless exceptions exist (e.g., Eakin et al 2009, Ericksen 2008b, Fraser 2006, Ford 2009, Gautam and Andersen 2017, Paloviita et al 2016, Prosperi et al 2014, Zavaleta et al 2018). The major conclusions from this emerging literature suggest causal vulnerability relates to processes, factors and actors that undermine the capacity of people, societies, economies, and ecosystems to provide food security and social and cultural welfare.…”