Life on land Scoping the governance and co-benefits of circular food-energy systems in Fiji

Project summary 

Circular food economies can support food security, emissions reduction, and sustainable energy use in rural areas of Fiji. Biodigester systems are a type of technology that can deliver multiple benefits concerning food, energy, climate, economic, environmental, gender equality and health issues. However, scaling this innovative technology has proven difficult in the past in Fiji, and other Pacific Island Countries, due to factors such as unique island geography, diverse cultural contexts, and, perhaps most importantly, fragmented governance systems and business models to support sustained adoption of technology.

This project seeks to better understand how co-benefits can be governed by the multiple government, business, and community groups involved in circular food economies. This is being done by working with businesses and government agencies interested in scaling biodigester systems and building the evidence base for multi-sector governance. This was accomplished through transdisciplinary factors including:

• Multi-stakeholder partnerships involving researchers, civil society and business to solve specific place-based problems;  
• Strong network connections between project team leaders and local businesses and communities in country; 
• Extensive field research experience in the Pacific Islands, enabling an intimate understanding of the intersectional factors impacting sustainability interventions;  
• Extensive desktop research into co-benefits from biodigesters and current thinking in sustainability governance for circular food economies.   

Biodigester technology can help realise a wide range of positive socio-ecological impacts. These include reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production, creating new income opportunities for local communities, and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers. It can also help improve ecosystem functioning and energy independence. All of this contributes to a safe, nutritious and affordable food supply.

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Project timeframe

SDG targets addressed by this project

Life on land:

15.9 - By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.

Zero hunger:

2.4 - By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality

Affordable and clean energy:

7.1 - By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services.

7.a - By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology

Climate action: 

13.2 - Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

Back to SDG 15 Life on land