Ahmad Husein – August 2025
SFACT scholar Lucinda ‘Lulu’ Middleton earned her PhD at Charles Darwin University after accomplished research titled “Nutrition-Sensitive Food Systems: The role of mangroves and their potential to support gendered food and nutrition security in Indonesia.”
Her research looks into the often-overlooked role of mangroves in supporting gendered food and nutrition security in Indonesia, specifically in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan. While mangroves are widely recognised for their environmental benefits, their contributions to local food systems have received less attention. Lulu explores how mangrove ecosystems function as gendered food sources, their impact on household nutrition, and the role of livelihoods in sustaining food security.
The research uncovers that aquatic foods sourced from mangroves are rich in vital micronutrients, including vitamin A, calcium, zinc, and iron. Interestingly, women were found to gather a broader variety of species than men, but they also faced significant socio-cultural barriers. On the other hand, men encountered political and institutional challenges in accessing mangrove resources.
Lulu’s research also highlights the economic significance of mangrove-derived income, with households spending as much as 85% of their earnings on food. However, seasonal changes affected food security, with food insecurity rising sharply from 6% during the wet season to 26% in the dry season (see: mangrove seasonal food availability calendar). Despite fluctuations in income, aquatic foods remained a critical part of the diet, especially for nutrients like selenium, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc.
Journal Sustainability, April 12th 2024 edition has published Lulu’s research with the title “We Don’t Need to Worry Because We Will Find Food Tomorrow: Local Knowledge and Drivers of Mangroves as a Food System through a Gendered Lens in West Kalimantan, Indonesia”. Another scientific journal also agrees to publish the study results.
