Thumbnail Image

Strengthening the Enabling Environment to Enhance Food Systems in the Pacific - TCP/SAP/3808

Year of publication 2025

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 9

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Synopsis (short abstract) The Pacific Islands, classified as Small Island Developing States (SIDS), face significant challenges in maintaining resilient food systems. These systems are fragile due to a growing reliance on imported food, limited arable land, geographical remoteness and susceptibility to climate related disasters. Over the years, agricultural production in the region has steadily declined and has not returned to per capita levels seen in the mid-1990s. Limited processing and storage capacities, high transportation costs linked to fuel dependency and substantial food losses further compound these challenges. The region has also experienced a dietary transition from traditional staples to imported, processed foods that are high in salt, sugar and fat but low in essential micronutrients such as vitamin A and iron.

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Emergency Response to Effects of COVID-19 Crisis in Pacific Island Countries - TCP/SAP/3801​ 2025
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Despite the lack of COVID-19 cases in Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the pandemic’s impact in the region was significant, with a state of emergency issued by all islands, border closures, and limited access to food supply and livelihood opportunities. It was recognized that a prolonged pandemic with disruptions to global and local supply chains (including production, processing, export and transportation) would seriously affect the region’s food systems. In many Pacific SIDS, imported foods constitute half of an average person’s food intake. However, most rural populations produce and consume their own food. While some island nations have a price control mechanism for foods considered essential (including rice, vegetable oil, milk, salt, canned tuna and sugar), the prices of other, non-controlled foods (such as fruit and vegetables) increased as a result of domestic supply chain disruptions. Access to seed, fertilizer and livestock feed was hampered by lockdowns, border closure and a shortage of supply in exporting countries. Small-scale fishing activities by local communities increased as a result of reduced access to imported foods and atoll nations in particular introduced plans to increase small-scale fishing in their coastal areas. Communities living in urban and peri-urban areas turned to growing food, setting up vegetable gardens where possible and buying more local foods.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Support to the Development of Multi-Country Programming Framework for the Pacific Islands (2023–2027) - TCP/SAP/3810 2025
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    In August 2021, during the 7th Pacific Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services (HOAFS) meeting, the development of a Pacific Regional Agriculture and Forestry Strategy was endorsed. The Pacific Community (SPC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) were tasked with designing a process and foresight methodology for this strategy, to be presented at the 2022 Joint FAO and SPC Pacific Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry Meeting. Additionally, SPC and FAO were encouraged to support the region in adopting a strategic approach to transforming food systems and addressing climate change impacts on agriculture and forestry. With the FAO CPF for the Pacific Islands (2018–2022) and the UN Pacific Strategy (UNPS) expiring at the end of 2022, efforts were initiated to develop new frameworks for the next cycle. This work involved evaluations of the CPF and UNPS, alongside drafting the FAO Pre Common Country Analysis (Pre-CCA) and the UN Common Country Analysis for the Pacific Islands. Considering the complexities of the Pacific Subregion, with 14 small island nations and territories, coordination among development partners such as the SPC, United Nations and FAO is critical. At the project design stage, FAO aimed to actively participate in crafting the Pacific Regional Agriculture and Forestry Strategy and the Pacific UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027, alongside its next CPF by the end of 2022.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Development of Pacific Regional Plan to Mainstream Biodiversity Across Agricultural Sectors, Including Fishery, Crops, Livestock and Forestry - TCP/SAP/3902 2025
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The project aimed to mitigate the negative impacts that productive sectors have on biodiversity and to establish sustainable, resilient agrifood systems in Pacific countries. To achieve this, the project successfully developed the “Pacific Action Plan on Mainstreaming Biodiversity Across Agricultural Sectors (2024-2030)” (Pacific Action Plan), following a highly consultative, multi-stakeholder process that identified priority needs and challenges across the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). This plan facilitates coordinated and cohesive action among stakeholders and ministries responsible for biodiversity across various sectors. The Pacific Action Plan was presented, distributed, and officially endorsed by FAO members during the 37th session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) in February 2024. Following its endorsement, representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture (MoAs) of Pacific Islands were invited to participate in CBD sub-regional meetings, where they will collaborate with CBD national focal points to enhance the implementation of the GBF in 2024.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.