Lois Englberger, an American researcher, works with the Island Food Community in Pohnpei, one of the Federated States of Micronesia. She spearheads the ‘Lets Go Local’ awareness campaign.
In 1998, an assessment was done to identify local foods that might alleviate the serious emerging problem of vitamin A deficiency in young children in Pohnpei. This was happening because more and more people were abandoning their traditional diets in favour of rice and other imported foods with a much lower nutritional value. An analysis of the local Karat banana, which has deep yellow-orange flesh, showed that it was extremely rich in provitamin A carotenoids, in particular beta-carotene and other nutrients, such as riboflavin (vitamin B2). Foods rich in provitamin A carotenoids protect against night blindness, infection and ‘weak blood’. Carotenoid-rich foods help protect against chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes, which are serious problems in Micronesia.
This prompted the launch of an intensive campaign to promote Karat and other yellow and orange-fleshed banana varieties. Over time, other local foods and varieties were also analyzed and an array of carotenoid-rich foods, including yellow-fleshed giant swamp taro varieties, were identified and promoted as part of the campaign. Government officials, schools and community groups all pitched in to help spread the word about the benefits of local food.
The campaign’s efforts have led people to start discussions about nutrition, and it has started to spread to other islands of the Federated States of Micronesia and other Pacific Island countries as well. There has been a significant increase in consumption of bananas, taro and green vegetables in the target community and awareness relating to local food has increased dramatically as a result of the campaign.
