Diet change and sustainability in Indigenous areas: Characteristics, drivers, and impacts of diet change in Gunayala, Panama

Abstract

Many Indigenous communities around the world have been experiencing rapid and profound diet changes. This Case Report uses a Sustainability Science lens to understand the characteristics of diet change in Indigenous Gunas communities of Panama, as well as its drivers and sustainability impacts. We observe the rapid westernization of diets mainly driven by modernization and development processes. However, this diet change has a series of intersecting sustainability impacts related to food security, health, and socio-cultural and environmental change. It is necessary to understand the intersection of these phenomena when designing programmes and interventions seeking to prevent or mitigate negative diet changes in Gunayala, and Indigenous contexts more broadly.

Unpacking the interface of modernization, development and sustainability in Indigenous Guna communities of Panama

“…This has been observed in other indigenous settings (Guillaume & Thill, 2018; Hay, 2013; Movono et al, 2018). The subsequent lifestyle and dietary changes often have a negative effect on local food production and health (Jacquelin‐Andersen, 2018; see Section 3.3.1; see Dam Lam et al, 2023 for a more detailed explanation). Moreover, since local food production is both reliant on and plays an important role for the preservation of TK and cultural traditions, the unintended consequences can be even more multi‐dimensional, permeating the entire indigenous sociocultural system, as has also been witnessed elsewhere (Alvarado, 1995; Castillo, 2005; Saito et al, 2020) (see Dam Lam et al, 2023 for more details).…”

“…The increasing frequency and duration of storms means that local communities are cut off more frequently and for longer periods from the mainland, and essentially from their food supplies (see Dam Lam et al, 2023 for a more detailed explanation of the underlying mechanisms). S3).…”

“…The present study focuses on identifying the major development challenges in Gunayala. A follow‐up study unpacks how one development challenge, namely dietary change, intersects with social–ecological system change (see more information at Dam Lam et al, 2023).…”

“… 8 8 The interested reader is diverted elsewhere for a more detailed explanation of how diet change intersects with these social impacts (Dam Lam et al, 2023). …”

“…The interested reader is diverted elsewhere for a more detailed explanation of how diet change intersects with these social impacts(Dam Lam et al, 2023).9 Localizing the SDGs refers to the process of "taking into account subna-…”