A new global initiative for climate, food, and health resilience

The Indigenous Peoples Observatory Network (IPON) was officially inaugurated last week in the Peruvian Amazon. The Network focuses on understanding and responding to the unprecedented challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather to the food systems and health of Indigenous communities worldwide. By fostering collaboration across academic, governmental, and Indigenous sectors, IPON seeks to empower communities to document, understand, and address the unique impacts of climate change on food and health systems.  

IPON has an initial 3 years of funding from the New Frontiers in Research Fund, with support also from the University of Leeds, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Pan American Health Organisation, and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research. The project’s transdisciplinary team—including geographers, social scientists, epidemiologists, and Indigenous knowledge holders—spans 6six continents and partners with more than 100 communities. We are Co-Chairs of the Network, one of us a Professor at the University of Leeds (Professor Ford) and one of a Quechua scholar who is based at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Peru (Dr Zavaleta).  

The Climate-Food-Health Nexus

Climate change has been recognized as one of the most severe threats to human health and food security this century. Increasing global temperatures and extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and wildfires, are already diminishing crop yields, reducing fish stocks, and impacting food quality. These shifts affect not only the availability of nutritious food but also exacerbate health issues like malnutrition and increased susceptibility to diseases, particularly non-communicable health conditions and mental health challenges. The World Health Organization predicts significant climate-related health impacts by 2050, including a 35% rise in hunger and malnutrition.  

Indigenous Peoples, who often live in ecologically sensitive regions, are disproportionately affected by these changes. Their reliance on traditional practices such as hunting, fishing, and small-scale farming, for example, means that climate disruptions threaten both their food sources and cultural heritage. The experience of land dispossession, colonisation, high rates of poverty, and constrained access to health systems meanwhile, challenges the ability of Indigenous communities to manage climate change impacts.

Arriving at the San Pascual Ashaninka Indigenous community, we enjoyed a warm welcome with a traditional riverside barbecue—a perfect blend of culture, food, and nature.

The linkages between climate change, food, and health have mostly been examined in the context of agricultural food systems and focusing on crop yields and caloric intake, overlooking the nuanced impacts of climate change on food quality, accessibility, and cultural importance. For Indigenous Peoples, food is more than sustenance—it is integral to spiritual and cultural identity, closely tied to traditional practices around food procurement, processing, and sharing. IPON’s holistic approach captures these dimensions, revealing how climate change affects food systems and health through diverse lenses. 

A Global Network of Indigenous Observatories

IPON is organized around a series of Indigenous Observatories located in diverse regions and led by community leaders, Elders, and youth, in collaboration with university researchers based in-country. The Observatories will monitor the real-time lived experiences and responses of Indigenous communities, tracking seasonal shifts, changes in food systems, health trends, and community resilience factors. For instance, the Observatories will gather data on seasonal changes affecting crops, fish stocks, and other resources critical to Indigenous diets and health. They will also document the socio-cultural impacts of climate change, which often affect family structures, kinship bonds, and traditional practices.

This place-based, culturally-rooted approach ensures that the research reflects the lived realities of these communities. Observatories have been established in South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Peru), Africa (Ghana, Namibia, S. Africa, Uganda), Asia (India, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka), and Oceania (Fiji, Kiribati), with affiliates in USA, Australia, UK, Germany, and Canada.  

IPON team members at the Peruvian meeting. We managed to gather at least one collaborator per region. From left to right: Adelina Mensah (The University of Ghana), James Ford (University of Leeds), Anita Varghese (Keystone Foundation), Guangqing Chi (Penn State), Eranga Galappaththi (Virginia Tech), Joana Bezerra (Rhodes University), Didacus Namanya (Ministry of Health of Uganda), Carol Zavaleta-Cortijo (UPCH), Jhon Cauchi (Queen Mary University of London), Noshipho Nkawinti (Rhodes University), Andrea Valdivia (UPCH), Dhanya Vijayan (ZALF), Sithuni Jayasekara (Virginia Tech), Rosa Silvera (UNALM), Rubi Briones (UNBC), Valeria Morales (UPCH), Marina Banuet (University of Alberta), Ingrid Arotoma-Rojas (University of Leeds), Kerrie Pickering (UNBC). 

Advocating for Indigenous-Led Solutions

Indigenous communities are not merely passive recipients of climate impacts, but are resilient and highly resourceful. Many communities have developed innovative, nature-based solutions to protect their ecosystems and adapt to environmental changes. IPON’s research highlights these Indigenous-led strategies, such as improved forest management, conservation efforts, and sustainable farming practices. By strengthening these initiatives, IPON will foster community-led solutions that enhance food security and health.

Moreover, the Observatories provide a platform for Indigenous communities to share their knowledge with decision makers, advocating for sustainable, community-focused interventions. Through policy briefs, workshops, and Intercultural Knowledge Dialogues with decision-makers, IPON seeks to influence national and global policies that support Indigenous resilience. The project also emphasizes the role of Indigenous knowledge in environmental governance, advocating for policies that respect and integrate traditional practices into broader climate strategies.

San Pascual community members eagerly shared their traditional river-crossing techniques with us.

The Road Ahead

IPON envisions a world where Indigenous Peoples are able to protect their food and health systems, adapting to climate challenges in ways that honour their cultural heritage. The project’s unique, Indigenous-led approach to research not only addresses immediate threats but also seeks to foster long-term resilience. By documenting lived experiences, preserving cultural knowledge, and advocating for community-centered policies, IPON is building a foundation for a sustainable future in which Indigenous communities can thrive despite the challenges of climate change. Find out more on our website, and follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter to keep a track on how we are progressing.  

This blog was written by James Ford and Carol Zavaleta and edited by Ingrid Arotoma-Rojas.

All photos © Victoria Rodriguez Astete