A new strategy, ‘Growing the Pacific 2050 Strategy for Agriculture and Forestry’, was endorsed by Pacific Island countries at the Regional Meeting of Ministers for Agriculture and Forestry, in Nuku’alofa, last week.
The Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry (PWAF) was hosted by Tonga from May 26 to May 30 2025, to discuss ways to improve farming and food systems in the region, with a theme to "Transform Agriculture & Forestry: More Regeneration, More Productivity, More Resilience".
Ministers, experts, and groups from across the Pacific took part, including governments, NGOs, and private businesses.
The new strategy, ‘Growing the Pacific 2050 Strategy for Agriculture and Forestry’, was endorsed by the regional ministers is focused on five intertwined pathways — healthy, regenerative, secure, integrated, and enabled - which collectively leads to transformative action across the agriculture and forestry sector.
These pathways support eight catalytic initiatives (2025–2030), which include promoting One Health and regenerative practices, advancing afforestation and climate-resilient systems, strengthening biosecurity and agrobiodiversity, supporting agribusiness and exports, and enhancing data, knowledge, and education systems to build future talent.
The region made a collective commitment to building resilient, sustainable, and inclusive agrifood systems for the future.
The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry of Tonga, Hon. Dr Siosiua Moala Halavatau, urged the continued collaboration among Pacific Islands to tackle shared challenges such as out-migration, an ageing farmer population, and climate change.
“Agriculture and forestry are vital for the Pacific, as they are the backbones of our economies and the foundation of our food security. But they face significant challenges,” said he said.
“Partnership brings us together today in a genuine effort to work together towards a vibrant, sustainable, and resilient future for Pacific peoples and countries.”
The 4th Ministerial Meeting concluded the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry (PWAF), hosted by the Kingdom of Tonga and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Pacific Community (SPC).
Dr Halavatau said that agriculture and forestry are the backbone of the Pacific’s economy and food supply, but they face serious challenges.
FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands, Guangzhou Qu, who reaffirmed FAO’s support for the region, emphasised that traditional practices and knowledge in the Pacific provide scalable solutions for climate resilience and sustainable production.
SPC’s Deputy Director-General (Science and Capability), Dr Paula Vivili, said, “Let us also not forget that food is identity in the Pacific. Our region holds immense food heritage and genetic wealth. We must protect it, celebrate it, and build systems that ensure its benefits for Pacific people.“Today, through discussions on invasive species, climate-informed food systems planning, and domestic production, we are collectively shaping strategies that are tailored, timely, and rooted in national priorities,” he said.
The next PWAF will be held in the Solomon Islands in 2027.
