It generates scientific knowledge useful for the preservation of cultural and biological diversity. Another 100,000 are involved in some small way. Some 1,000,000 people will have heard the message or been otherwise influenced by the practice. A contribution is being made to the conservation of biological and cultural diversity. By raising the status of indigenous knowledge in the eyes of local communities, the practice not only helps to alleviate poverty but also increases people s respect for their own culture.
Research exposes local knowledge to piracy.
Traditional foods are now more common in markets than they were before even in supermarkets. A recent survey conducted in Nairobi revealed that traditional leafy vegetables are being sold in every one of the 20 open retail markets sampled, and most supermarkets now stock at least some type of traditional food, such as flour for making traditional porridge. Over one-quarter of Kenya's population has been sensitized to the issue. A database containing detailed information on more than 850 species is now available to researchers. With a few adaptations, the practice could easily be transferred to other places.