This session wishes to point out how the study of both cultivated and useful “wild” plants can be a relevant tool for investigating social mutations currently taking place in Oceanian societies. Their insular characteristics - i.e. limited geographical extent - imply rather vulnerable socioecological systems, which partly explains why Oceanian people have continuously been adapting their agricultural techniques to major changes. Depending on the socioecological context, these transformations have implied the use of soon-to-be-transformed ancient knowledge or the creation of a whole new range of tools and techniques. In fact, ever since people travelled from one island to another, useful plants have been introduced and domesticated, and the types of local varieties have hence become more and more diversified. Pacific Island people had also been exchanging plants and other goods with the American continent far before they started to use European navigation facilities, and before the arrival of Europeans missions and administrations (Lawler 2010; Thorsby 2012; Rouillier and al. 2013; Denham 2013). However, because this allowed for the introduction of new species such as manioc, macabo or papaya, which were all quickly adopted - the arrival or Europeans marked significant changes in the agriculture practices that were prevailing up until then. In spite of Oceanian horticulturists retaining intimate relationships with their plants (Barrau, 1955; Haudricourt, 1964; Bonnemaison, 1996) and the sheer amount of species being grown, which has never been so great, local species are less and less cultivated (Walter & Lebot, 2003). Additionally, food habits have undergone many changes, and imported foodstuffs, such as rice, are now consumed in great quantities even outside urban areas, again, despite the great agriculture potential. All these elements raise questions regarding subsistence agriculture in Oceania. We therefore invite agronomists, anthropologists, archaeologists, biologists, ethnobiologists, historians, and others specialists of the Pacific, to draw up a general overview of recent studies on how globalization and climate change have been impacting food production and practises, as well as subsistence agriculture since 'first contacts'. It represents a research theme in which ecology, anthropology and economy merge, and one in which environmental features, health aspects and social organisation manifest themselves. Papers which will allow for a discussion between social sciences and life sciences are more than welcome.
Paper submissions are closed