TONGA/AUSTRALIA
Ministers and heads of agriculture and forestry departments from 22 Pacific nations are gathering in Tonga this week for the 2025 Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry (PWAF) to deliberate on the future of the region’s agriculture and forestry sectors.
The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) has been a supporter of the event since it began in 2017.
This year, the theme ‘Transform Agriculture & Forestry: More Regeneration, More Productivity, More Resilience’ will bring together leaders to explore key challenges and opportunities in agriculture and forestry across the region.
ACIAR CEO, Professor Wendy Umberger underscored the value of regional cooperation in agricultural research and development with Pacific partners.
“ACIAR is pleased to be supporting the collective work and leadership of the Pacific research leaders on the Regional Research Agenda Framework and strengthening the different technical networks, such as the Pacific Soils Partnership, Forestry Professional Network, Pasifika NiuNet (NEW-NET), and others,” said Prof Umberger.
“By strengthening collaborative partnerships between Pacific and Australian research and technical organisations, and other development partners, we are ensuring that research not only addresses immediate needs of our Pacific partners but also provides the evidence and lays the foundation for long-term, sustainable development. This includes investments in climate-resilient livelihoods, biosecurity, agribusiness development, community-based fisheries management, and integrated food systems and nutrition.”
To address challenges facing fragile and conflict-affected food systems, ACIAR has also invested in the CGIAR Island Food Systems work towards developing more resilient food production systems, safer aquatic food distribution practices, and increased access to nutritious and indigenous foods for communities.
ACIAR will be hosting and participating in a range of side events throughout the week that will see Pacific partners lead discussions, set priorities for the years ahead and provide guidance on how the organisation can contribute to their agricultural development priorities. ACIAR will also meet with senior leaders from its current partner countries and engage with Pacific graduates of various ACIAR-funded scholarship programs to discuss future research and capacity-development efforts in the region.
PWAF centres around the 9th Regional Meeting of the Pacific Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services and the FAO SPC Joint Agriculture and Forestry Ministerial Meeting. Complementing these high-level meetings of Ministers and senior officials will be 29 side events throughout the week, focusing on themes – climate change, soils, genetic biodiversity of crops, forests, livestock, ecology, organics, and the environment.
Learn more about the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry.
