Wild Food Harvest, Food Security, and Biodiversity Conservation in Jamaica: A Case Study of the Millbank Farming Region

A strong relationship between wild food harvest and food insecurity exists among rural farmers in Jamaica, particularly within the Millbank farming region near the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park. The study, involving interviews with 43 farmers, found that wild food harvesting significantly mitigates food insecurity (p < 0.001), highlighting its critical role in household well-being and livelihood satisfaction. This empirical evidence underscores the need to integrate wild food practices into food security, poverty alleviation, and biodiversity conservation policies. The research used mixed methods, including the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and participatory techniques, to assess food insecurity, farming activities, and forest resource interactions.

Campbell, D., Moulton, A. A., Barker, D., Malcolm, T., Scott, L., Spence, A., Tomlinson, J., & Wallace, T. (2021). Wild Food Harvest, Food Security, and Biodiversity Conservation in Jamaica: A Case Study of the Millbank Farming Region. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.663863