Samoa and FAO formulate a new ‘smart agriculture’ project with GEF funding
09/02/2026
04/02/2026
Apia – ‘Smart agriculture’ is hailed as a game-changing approach in boosting resilience and productivity in Samoa’s agriculture sector, amid climate challenges. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will tap into this approach in their new project which is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project concept has been approved in 2025. It is set to receive USD 2 million funding once operational.
“This project represents a timely and transformative opportunity to strengthen resilience, enhance productivity, and empower our farmers and communities,” said The Honorable Aiolupotea Misa Tony Aiolupo, Associate Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries of Samoa during a workshop in Apia to validate the project formulation.
Guangzhou Qu, FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands appreciated the engagement from diverse stakeholders - ministries, private sector, academia and civil society in this project formulation process.
He further said this will ensure “the project responds effectively to Samoa’s priorities and contributes meaningfully to the transformation of agrifood systems that are more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable—especially in the face of growing climate challenges.”
Overall, the project aims to transform Samoa's agrifood systems by enhancing the resilience of the crop and livestock sub-sector and increasing agricultural productivity through Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA), while generating environmental and nutritional benefits.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) will lead the implementation of the project in alignment with Samoa’s Pathway for the Development of Samoa (PDS) and MAF and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) Sector Plans, ensuring strong national ownership and long-term sustainability. For farmers, the project is expected to increase productivity, reduce climate-related production losses, and enhance access to extension services and markets. At the institutional level, the project will strengthen MAF's capacity through targeted technical training, enhanced data and information systems, and improved planning, monitoring, and decision-making tools to support the adoption of climate-smart agriculture.
This new GEF-funded project has been designed in an impact driven focus. It will demonstrate Integrated Ecosystem‑Based Crop–Livestock Systems, pilot low‑impact animal health, feed, nutrient, and waste management solutions, and establish eight climate‑smart demonstration plots across four selected agro‑ecological zones in Apia and Savai. The project has allocated 70% of its resources to field-level activities, enabling at least 12% of land to be brought under improved production practices that will promote environmentally friendly crop and livestock production in Samoa.
Besides promoting Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA), it is also designed to promote gender-responsive farming practices, while enhancing market access, establishing community‑level revolving funds, and digital advisory services to empower small‑scale farmers, women entrepreneurs, and youth, enabling the scaling out of smart and nature‑based solutions in both islands of Samoa.
FAO is the UN specialised agency that leads global effort to fight global hunger and malnutrition by transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable. FAO also promotes sustainable natural resource management and supports rural development. As of January 2026, FAO-GEF portfolio in the Pacific Islands worth a total of USD 69 million, with 14 approved projects and seven project concepts in nine member countries.