Biodiversity in Food Markets of the World

So called local markets, farmers markets, wet markets, bush markets, live-animal markets, livestock markets etc. exist all over the world and can host a considerable number of wild or cultivated, local or imported, species of plants, animals and fungi. Depending on each socio-cultural context, markets offer a huge diversity of fruits, vegetables, tubers, herbs, algae, grains, mushrooms, but also livestock animals, fishes, crustaceans, insects, birds, reptiles, bats, rodents etc. Our understanding of this global biodiversity is limited but its implications for public health, conservation and sustainable development are major.

We aim at building an inventory of geo-localized photos showing the biodiversity of markets of the world in all its forms: wild, cultivated, native, imported etc. Based on this we could estimate different forms of biodiversity (e.g. native and local vs cultivated and imported etc.) and its possible environmental impact (e.g. footprint).

If you were also amazed by the diversity of fruits with bright colours and strange shapes in your last trip to the Tropics, or if you are just curious about the different names and origins of the fishes in your home local market, you are at the right place!

Your mission is simple: In your next visit to a food market in your town or abroad, take as many photos as possible from different fruits, vegetables, tubers, herbs, algae, grains, mushrooms, livestock animals, fishes, crustaceans, insects, birds, reptiles, bats, rodents etc. For each product (photo), you will be asked to complete a short questionnaire including the local name of the product, origin, cost, health claim etc. Answers to these questions may be readily available in small informative panels in many markets but in others you will have to ask the vendors, which will also give you a great opportunity to interact with locals!

Of course, the INaturalist community will help you to complete your records and to identify those complicated cases! Make sure to take nice and clear photos that could help your online colleagues!

Let’s discover the markets of the world and the beauty of their biodiversity together! less ↑