{"id":27245,"date":"2025-07-28T11:54:03","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T06:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/?p=27245"},"modified":"2025-07-28T11:54:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T06:09:07","slug":"study-links-indigenous-agroforests-to-enhanced-biodiversity-and-nutrition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/study-links-indigenous-agroforests-to-enhanced-biodiversity-and-nutrition\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Links Indigenous Agroforests to Enhanced Biodiversity and Nutrition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Agroforest in Fiji<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Honolulu<\/strong>\u2014A recent study led by researchers from the University of Hawai\u02bbi at M\u0101noa has found that Indigenous agroforests\u2014dynamic systems where trees and crops grow together\u2014hold significant promise for addressing two pressing global concerns: biodiversity loss and non-communicable diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Published in Global Food Security<\/em>, the research examined 48 Indigenous agroforests in Fiji using a trait-based approach to measure ecological and nutritional diversity. Findings reveal that ecosystems rich in plant traits associated with environmental resilience also support a wider array of essential nutrients for human health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ecological Diversity Equals Nutritional Strength<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By analyzing plant traits such as seed dispersal methods, growth height, and nutrient profiles including vitamin A, zinc, and carbohydrates, the team found that agroforests with higher ecological diversity also offered more nutritionally robust food sources. These biodiverse systems, which mimic natural forests, contrast sharply with modern agriculture\u2019s focus on monocultures and yield efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lead author Ashley McGuigan emphasized the potential of agroforestry systems to support climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive farming. \u201cFiji\u2019s agroforests highlight the role of biodiversity and local knowledge in creating food systems that can respond to climate change and support community health,\u201d said McGuigan, faculty at UH M\u0101noa\u2019s CTAHR and School of Life Sciences alumna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valuing Indigenous Knowledge Systems<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study also underscored the importance of Indigenous knowledge and stewardship. The Fijian agroforests studied are maintained through place-based, multi-generational practices that have supported resilience across centuries. Researchers argue that these systems are vital for transitioning to food production methods that safeguard both ecosystems and human well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur findings support stronger investment in Indigenous and agroecological food systems globally,\u201d said McGuigan. The team advocates for trait-based design tools to support resilient agriculture and calls on policymakers to recognize the deep link between environmental and public health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research Team and Support<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The multidisciplinary study was supported by the National Science Foundation, the Fulbright Program, and UH M\u0101noa. Contributors include Tamara Ticktin and Rachel Novotny (UH M\u0101noa), Veniana Tikonavuli and Unaisi Vuli (University of the South Pacific), and Abrania Marrero (Harvard University).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vuli highlighted the broader implications: \u201cFood production is central to Fiji\u2019s economy and rural livelihoods. Supporting Indigenous practices strengthens resilience against climate and economic shocks while enhancing food security.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A recent study led by researchers from the University of Hawai\u02bbi at M\u0101noa has found that Indigenous agroforests\u2014dynamic systems where trees and crops grow together\u2014hold significant promise for tackling two pressing global concerns: biodiversity loss and non-communicable disease.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27246,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest.webp",700,394,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest-200x200.webp",200,200,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest-675x380.webp",675,380,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest.webp",700,394,false],"large":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest.webp",700,394,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest.webp",700,394,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest.webp",700,394,false],"ultp_layout_landscape_large":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest.webp",700,394,false],"ultp_layout_landscape":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest.webp",700,394,false],"ultp_layout_portrait":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest-600x394.webp",600,394,true],"ultp_layout_square":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest-600x394.webp",600,394,true],"newspaper-x-single-post":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest.webp",700,394,false],"newspaper-x-recent-post-big":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest-550x360.webp",550,360,true],"newspaper-x-recent-post-list-image":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest-95x65.webp",95,65,true],"web-stories-poster-portrait":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest-640x394.webp",640,394,true],"web-stories-publisher-logo":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest-96x96.webp",96,96,true],"web-stories-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/agroforest-150x84.webp",150,84,true]},"author_info":{"info":["RevoScience"]},"category_info":"Research<\/a>","tag_info":"Research","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27245","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27245"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27245\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27247,"href":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27245\/revisions\/27247"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revoscience.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}