ABSTRACT
It is well understood that the degenerative effects of our globalized, modern food system on both the society and environment require a regenerative remedy. When sustainability is about maintaining a particular practice but allowing the system to function well in the future, then I argue that the best proven examples of sustainability are those which have been practiced consistently for generations and stood the test of time. This is exemplified by traditional food systems of many indigenous peoples. Using an extent of literature review from two bodies of knowledge (one from nutrition study and one on agroecology), as well as an empirical example of an indigenous community in Indonesia, this chapter therefore aims to explore traditional/indigenous livelihoods in the agri-food systems and illustrate the way in which these practices can provide insights into how we can move towards more sustainable and regenerative food systems. The existence of these indigenous practices, however, is increasingly threatened, either from the peoples’ loss and limitation of access to land and natural resources or from the introduction and domination of mainstream food systems that contribute to the dietary change of indigenous people. The chapter then suggests that the solution is not by isolating indigenous communities away from the modern value and showcasing them for the world to see – but by realizing that there is a compatibility between the two value systems which can learn from each other.
