Building Towards One Health: A Transdisciplinary Autoethnographic Approach to Understanding Perceptions of Sustainable Aquatic Foods in Vietnam

Saihong Li (), Soon Yong Ang, Angus M. Hunter, Seda Erdem, John Bostock, Chau Thi Da, Ngoc Tuan Nguyen, Amina Moss, William Hope, Charles Howie, Richard Newton, Mercedes Arguello Casteleiro and Dave Little
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Saihong Li: Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Soon Yong Ang: Stirling Management School, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Angus M. Hunter: Department of Sport Science, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
Seda Erdem: Stirling Management School, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
John Bostock: Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Chau Thi Da: Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
Ngoc Tuan Nguyen: Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
Amina Moss: Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
William Hope: Salford Languages, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK
Charles Howie: Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, An Giang University, Long Xuyen City 880000, Vietnam
Richard Newton: Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Mercedes Arguello Casteleiro: School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Dave Little: Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-23

Abstract: As Vietnam navigates challenges to its animal, human, and environmental health (One Health) during rapid economic transitions, understanding local perceptions of sustainable food systems, particularly aquatic foods, is vital. This study employs a transdisciplinary, autoethnographic approach to exploring the cultural significance of aquatic food perceptions within Vietnamese communities. Data were primarily sourced through an autoethnographic triangulation method, involving detailed field diaries, vignettes, and interactive workshop data collected from local stakeholders. Our distinctive approach, involving researchers from environmental science, computer science, linguistics, political ecology, aquaculture, nutrition, human physiology, marketing, and accounting and accountability, as both participants and observers, illuminates the lived experiences that shape food perceptions within Vietnam’s specific food agro-ecosystems. By embedding aquatic food perceptions within the One Health framework, we identify key intersections between human, animal, and environmental health. Through cross-disciplinary narrative analysis, our study uncovers the social, political, economic, cultural, and linguistic dimensions surrounding aquatic food perceptions at local, regional, and national levels in Vietnam. Our study highlights the unique contribution of qualitative methods to addressing questions that hard data cannot answer in understanding perceptions of aquatic foods. The study emphasizes the need for an integrated, culturally informed, and transdisciplinary approach to addressing the complex factors influencing One Health outcomes in Vietnam. This research contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable food practices and One Health initiatives, proposing culturally informed interventions aimed at enhancing ecological resilience and public health.

Keywords: One Health; aquatic food; food perceptions; autoethnographic approach; interdisciplinary; Vietnam (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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