Foraging and Biocultural Capital: Toward Nutritional and Intergenerational Resilience in Community Food Systems

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Environmental Science
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital provides a framework for understanding social assets.
• Biocultural capital is conceptualized as a crucial asset for managing shared resources like land and food.
• Community-based foraging is identified as a practice at the intersection of nutrition, planetary health, and cultural well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and define the concept of biocultural capital.
• To explore the role of community-based foraging in developing biocultural capital.
• To investigate strategies for building biocultural capital within a local context.

Main Methods:

• The study extrapolates from Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital.
• A case study approach was employed in Syracuse, New York, USA.
• Community partners and residents were engaged to identify strategies for building biocultural capital.

Main Results:

• Biocultural capital is presented as a capacity and asset for stewarding land, food, and knowledge.
• Foraging supports community-based biocultural capital, fostering local self-determination and dignity.
• The case study identified practical strategies for building biocultural capital through foraging knowledge, networks, and practice.

Conclusions:

• Biocultural capital is essential for achieving local food sovereignty and nutrition security.
• Community-based foraging initiatives can significantly enhance biocultural capital.
• Stewardship of public commons through biocultural capital benefits present and future generations.