Accessing Local Knowledge to Achieve Economic and Social Sustainability

Abstract

Understanding the role and processes that operate in the transmission of local knowledge is central in the discussion of plant biosecurity and food security at a local community level, and at a national or international policy level. Changing social, cultural and economic priorities locally and globally has impacts on local food production processes that local people engage in, the local environment and potential biosecurity threats. The management of biosecurity and food security is linked to knowledge of ecological systems, land and plant management. Extensive ecological knowledge is embedded in local communities that have managed land for generations, changing land management practices and lifestyle choices has the potential to affect that local knowledge, its governance and representation. Changes in local people’s lifestyle may affect their habitat or environment. For example, such changes occur when local people change their diet from a staple local food to non-local or new introduced food sources.