As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to plague economies and societies across the globe, the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS) maintains its commitment to strengthening and enhancing its contributions to Samoa’s nation-wide response. SROS’s COVID-19 diagnostic testing and research work have received critical reinforcement through the generous assistance from the International...

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cities have been lockdown, businesses have been closed, travel and gathering have been banned, and supply chains have been disrupted. The pandemic is upending economies and daily life everywhere, including the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS). In the selected PSIDs, Fiji is the only...

We’re trying to teach our young ones that there’s no rocket science to it. It’s about keeping that natural balance and it will just keep giving.” 🌱 Meet Togia Tavita Faletoese, a Samoan organic farmer who set up a youth farm to pass on traditional knowledge

The high rate of adult obesity observed in Samoa (almost 46 percent in 2016) points to access to an amount of dietary energy that is well above the minimum amount of dietary energy needed by the population to be in good health and to be socially active. The analysis of...

he Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), University of South Pacific (USP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) are partnering to develop weather advisories aimed at helping farmers better plan their crop production. A meeting to discuss moving...

This method produces small, whole planting setts, each weighing 200 g to 800 g, from minisetts as small as 25 g. The small, whole tuber setts produced by minisett rapid multiplication are excellent planting material for farmers and researchers. Each sett has a head, which means that sprouting is early,...

FAO has been recently approved two projects to strengthen community-fisheries in Tonga and Samoa. The aim of the projects is to strengthen the technical capacity for both countries to improve and streamline their community-based fisheries management programmes. These programmes play an integral role in ensuring the effective management of coastal fisheries...

The development of the Fisheries sector in Samoa received a boost with the launching of four major initiatives.   Speaking at the launch which took place in July, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr Leuatea Schmidt highlighted the challenges that face the industry. “The challenges include increasing monitoring in an effort...

Two new rainforest Community Conservation Areas (CCAs) were officially opened recently on the island of Savai’i in Samoa. The CCAs were developed in partnership between the village communities, the Samoa Conservation Society, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and the Forestry. The CCAs are part of the continued Forest...

The 2nd Agribusiness Forum seeks to deepen partnerships to promote specific public–private partnerships to boost local production and value addition," said Michael Hailu, the Director of CTA. "The active engagement of the private sector is critical for the transformation of the agrifood sector in the Pacific to address major challenges...

The declining export competitiveness of farmers and fishers in the Pacific Islands, coupled with increased dietary dependence on imported food, has led public and private sector stakeholders in the Pacific to prioritize improving the capacity of their agricultural sectors to meet their domestic food needs. As a result, there is...

More than 500 million family farms dominate agriculture around the world ensuring food security and providing employment to hundreds of millions of people. Family farms are also essential in safeguarding agro-biodiversity, and sustaining communities and cultures. However, family farming faces numerous challenges including insecure land rights, and limited access to...

This Food Security Toolkit, designed specifically for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), aims to improve Pacific Islanders’ ability to produce and access safe and nutritious foods that meet their dietary and cultural needs. Targeting food security in the Pacific region is a critical action in the face of climate...

This study has adopted an empirical approach using case study research to gather evidence to better inform policy processes is the Pacific region. It aims to distill the lessons from experience, looking for critical factors of success and any context specific issues which may influence the way that different communities...

This Food Security Toolkit, designed specifically for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), aims to improve Pacific Islanders’ ability to produce and access safe and nutritious foods that meet their dietary and cultural needs. Targeting food security in the Pacific region is a critical action in the face of climate...

The increased demand for high quality products in export markets, coupled with Pacific Island Countries (PICs) national desire to protect the environment, biodiversity and family farming structures, lead to assume that organic agriculture could offer good prospects for PICs development. Besides market opportunities, organic agriculture could increase PICs food self-reliance...

This brief has been prepared for the UN Convention on Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen, December 2009, to raise awareness of the imminent impacts of climate change on food security in Pacific island countries and territories and to urge participants to consider the importance of mainstreaming food security in climate-related...

The increased demand for high quality products in export markets, coupled with Pacific Island Countries (PICs) national desire to protect the environment, biodiversity and family farming structures, lead to assume that organic agriculture could offer good prospects for PICs development. Besides market opportunities, organic agriculture could increase PICs food self-reliance...