Building Societies of Peace- Looking to Matriarchal Societies for Lessons on AgroEcology and Nutrition

Lead Organization: Indigenous Partnership for Agro-biodiversity and Food Sovereignty

Partner Organizations: Slow Food International (SFI); Biodiversity International; Centre for Indigenous Nutrition and Environment (CINE); McGill University; North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS); Vanuatu Cultural Centre; IKAP; and IMPECT.

Award: $145,000 over 12 months (2014-2015)

This project will conduct collaborative research, knowledge sharing and network building on the agroecology of matriarchal societies with a focus on shifting cultivation and nutrition. There will be a study on the nutrition and agro- ecological practices of two matriarchal societies – the Khasis in India and the Karen in Thailand – to improve policy on their food, livelihood and nutritional security. The project will create a forum on the nutrition and agricultural practices of matriarchal societies, while building awareness of their contribution to sustainable agriculture. It will establish an indigenous matriarchal network to connect indigenous peoples and scale up local efforts around the world.