Governance and wild food plant value chains: a look at the Brazilian context.

Abstract

As an answer to the topic, "Does local, national, and international governance have a primary role in shaping the resilience of local ecological knowledge?" we explore the context of governance and wild food plant (WFP) value chains in Brazil. We chose to focus on WFP value chains because they are often deeply embedded with local ecological knowledge. We argue that: (1) the development or abandonment of public policies can significantly boost or hinder these value chains; (2) WFP harvesters face challenges in accessing national public policies that could support and promote these value chains; and (3) Brazilian policies must consider the specific land ownership issues affecting WFP harvesting communities. Additionally, we will discuss the main challenges in promoting and strengthening WFP value chains and how governance can address these issues.