Chapter 5: Ecology and Economics of Nutrition The biological forces and social forces that shape: –human food use –nutritional status of individuals and populations

Variables to be discussed Physical environment Social environment Social organization Technology Culture

Physical Environment Climate Water resources Soil characteristics Indigenous animals and plants

Social Environment Food procurement and distribution by: –Other societies –Other regions –Other communities –How do these factors affect the diet in the study community?

Social Organization Structure and organization of the household Political and economic structure as they pertain to food through: –Production –Distribution –Consumption

Technology Tools and techniques –Production –Distribution –Acquisition –Storage –Consumption

Culture (idea systems) Food preferences and restrictions Use of food in social interactions Religious beliefs Ideas about health

Subsistence Systems Hunting-Gathering Pastoralist Agricultural –Horticultural (gardening, hoe) –Advanced (plow) Industrial Agricultural

Core Characteristics of Human Food Patterns Extremely omnivorous diet At least some cooking More time consuming preparation Elaborate food distribution, sharing, and exchange patterns Food prohibitions and food preferences

Hunting and Gathering Most of human history Collect food from land and water but not cultivating Distribution of food affected social organization: small groups, seminomadic, used large land area, population density low, population growth slow

Hunting and Gathering cont. Diversity in types of food consumed Diversity in ratio of animal to vegetable General nutritional status good to excellent Seasonal food shortage a problem, this varies with environment Chronic malnutrition and deficiency diseases rare

Pastoralism Subsistence based on herd animals Two types: Nomadic, Seminomadic Nomads –No permanent houses –No agriculture Seminomads –Live in settlements –Some individuals cultivate crops

Pastoralism cont. Milk is important part of diet Practiced for 3000 years Today this strategy is less viable due to political and economic constraints

Agricultural Beginning 12,000 to 15,000 years ago By 2000 years ago a large proportion of world’s population completely dependent on agriculture

“Agricultural Revolution” Major changes in diet, nutrition, and health Social and technological changes Changes in human societies

Horticultural Also called gardening systems Use hoe rather than plow No irrigation Household consumption No commercial sale Household is production unit Little interdependence with other groups No expanded market networks

Agriculture Use of plow Irrigation Class of producers – peasants Only some producers Other elites who control production Malnutrition hits rural producers hardest

Cash Cropping Industrialization of food production and food preparation Changes in household production Changes in culture Changes in environment

Leisure Time Women –Resting –Crafts –Visiting other camps –Receiving visitors from other camps –Kitchen chores Cooking, nut cracking, collecting firewood, hauling water

Leisure Time cont. Men –Visiting –Entertaining –Dancing

Estimating Nutritional Status Average consumption of calories and proteins/person/day Estimated RDA (based on body size and activity level) –1,975 calories –60 grams protein Observed Kung –2,140 calories –93.1 grams protein Observed Achuar –3,408 calories (4,557) –104.5 grams protein (162)

Hunting Versus Gathering Hunting is high risk, low return Gathering is low risk, high return With the Kung, gathering is 2.4 times more productive than hunting

Food Preferences and the Cost of Food 1000 calories of meat “costs” 10 man-hours 1000 calories of vegetable foods “costs” four man-hours

Review of Subsistence Strategies The Kung have been extremely successful, in part, because of the heavy reliance on vegetable food sources Is this a common pattern? –From a sample of 58 societies –100 % dependence on hunting and gathering 29 cases (50%) emphasize gathering 18 cases (33%) emphasize fishing 11 cases (17%) emphasize hunting