Thesis abstract:

«p»Climate change, political instability, and the recent emergence of global pandemic are, at least, the three major threats that trigger a food crisis, impacting the sustainability of human’s food fulfillment. This ‘unholy trinity’ has disrupted the existing food system. As a result, countries especially the Global South nations, are frequently affected by food crisis, leading to an extreme food vulnerability, as food production and distribution mechanisms are paralyzed. Several countries have launched various aid programs to reduce the burden of the people in accessing food resources. Indonesia as one of the Global South countries has also disbursed various types of aid to allow the community to access foods. However, an indigenous community namely Boti, in Timor Island, East Nusa Tenggara (ENT) Province, has been able to define their own foodways that is resilient in facing food crisis and they refuse to accept national aid program distributed by the government. To understand how the Boti community could generate a resilient food system and food management in times of crisis, this research will study the forms of indigenous practices and knowledge applied by the community. This study will focus on the food crisis that occurred throughout 2019 to 2024, starting from the time the COVID-19 pandemic emerged which worsened global food conditions due to the influence of the climate change phenomenon which continuously takes place. In doing so, this research will equip qualitative method of ethnography. This research will involve literature study, key informant interviews (KII), and observation by living with the community for 10 months to document the livelihood and ways of the Boti people in maintaining the stability of food resources and agricultural sustainability.«/p» «p»Keywords: global food system; food system resilience; indigenous food sovereignty; indigenous knowledge and practices; governing the commons; refusal; Boti community; regional food policy.«/p»