Regional experts meeting in Apia, Samoa, have recognised the vital role of local agriculture in food security and resilience to climate change.

Yesterday, 23 February, a roundtable meeting discussed ‘Climate Services for Agriculture & Food & Nutrition security’. The meeting was organised by various organisations: National Institute of Water Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, SPREP, Government of Samoa and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Gavin Wall, FAO, stated “A vibrant agriculture sector in the Pacific islands is not only beneficial economically and socially, it also has a broad reach into the homes of Pacific island residents,”

‘It is critically important therefore that farmers continue to produce much needed food, and to do so reliably we need to be resilient to the climate impacts” he added.

Kosi Latu, the Deputy-Director General SPREP stated, “I am sure the deliberations over these two days will bring a fresh perspective to the meteorological community on how climate services can be tailored to provide specific information for decision making, including that at the policy level,”

“The agricultural sector is a key partner for which the meteorological community provides climate services to help them prepare for what weather impacts may come.”

“Partnership lies at the heart of this roundtable and in the region’s ability to address this important challenge,” said Dean Solofa of SPC. 

The two day meeting was held at the SREP compound in Apia.