Transformation pathways for Pacific coastal food systems

Clear blue ocean water and low hanging trees in the background (Pacific).

The challenge

As global temperatures approach 1.5°C above pre- industrial levels by 2050, and 2°C by 2100, the impact of climate change on the Pacific region will accelerate.

Local food systems – agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and aquaculture – will be drastically affected, exacerbated by population growth. There is uncertainty about the timing and extent of these impacts, but these changes are likely to render many current production systems less viable, and in some cases impossible. Consequently, it's necessary that planning considers alternatives that go beyond incremental adaptation towards transformational change. Many studies have been conducted on Pacific food crops and fisheries, their vulnerability to climate change, and resilience-building strategies.

Climate projections and climate services are rapidly improving, providing better information. However, there is a lack of decision-making tools and processes that integrate this information and enable communities and planners to anticipate rapid climate change, and to transform food systems accordingly.

Project partners and aim

To meet this challenge, the following organisations are collaborating with Pacific partners to develop innovative decision-making that can map transformational options at a local level:

Live and Learn
WWF-Solomon Islands
Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR)
Cawthron Institute
UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF)
Pacific Community (SPC)
CSIRO.

Potentially, transformational alternatives will also be trialled which integrate agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture within ‘circular bio-economies’ to meet local communities’ values and aspirations. The project will work in two pilot sites:

Abaiang Island in Kiribati
Sairagi in Western Province, Solomon Islands.

Workshop participants after 3 day future food systems pathway planning. — *Workshop participants after three days of future food systems pathway planning.*

Approach

The project will follow three phases:

understanding the food system
agreeing transformation pathways
implementing the pathways.

By building the capacity of knowledge brokers, the process will be maintained in the pilot sites, and scaled out through the brokers’ activities. Ongoing monitoring, evaluation and learning will be central to track change, and to learn lessons for future processes.