About the event

The inception meeting will identify priority areas of the Thematic Working Group (TWG) on on Mountain Food Systems and will develop a work plan for the TWG.

Background

The Himalayan University Consortium (HUC)  Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) are member-led, self-funded and self-organising clusters working on specific thematic areas that are significant in the region. The TWGs work together to promote regional collaboration in research and training for sustainable mountain development by enhancing the networking and partnership amongst institutions and providing the opportunity for joint research activities, curriculum development, training, and capacity building.

In the Himalayan region, food production and consumption are intertwined with culture, livelihood and the environment. Local food systems are critical in sustaining the communities in the region due to poor mobility and limited market access arising from topographic limitations. Studies have shown that the region faces food insecurity. Further, the difficult mountainous terrain and poor access to basic amenities make the food system vulnerable to natural hazards and climate change. Research and development on agriculture and the entire food system in the region are often based on the mainstream knowledge which is often built upon experience from the plains. Thus, there is a need to develop the knowledge base on mountain food systems and develop curriculum in higher studies that is sensitive to the needs of the mountain food system.

Mountain Food Systems is one of the newest TWG of the HUC is set up to serve as a platform for collaborating on research, capacity building and training on food systems in the region.