Lessons from the Pacific

This paper examines the evolving landscape of climate resilience within the agrifood systems of Pacific Island countries, where agriculture, fisheries, transportation, and food distribution networks are deeply interconnected and highly vulnerable to climate change. Pacific Island agrifood systems – spanning smallholder crop and livestock production, subsistence and semicommercial fishing, food processing, and marketing – are facing escalating threats from more frequent extreme weather, sea level rise, and resource scarcity. Through regional case studies drawn from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, the analysis highlights how climate-smart agriculture, local innovations, and strengthened institutional collaboration are not only helping to safeguard production but also ensuring that food supply chains, market access, and rural livelihoods remain viable under changing climatic conditions. The paper underscores the importance of evidence-based interventions, such as crop diversification, extension services, and improved value chain connectivity, for fostering a more adaptive and inclusive agrifood sector. Despite positive developments, significant challenges persist, such as underdeveloped infrastructure, limited agrifood financing, and challenges in knowledge-sharing across the region. The study provides actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening the agrifood system’s adaptive capacity – emphasising the need for integrated policies, investment in resilient infrastructure, and multistakeholder engagement – so Pacific Island countries can achieve sustainable food security and resilient rural economies in the midst of ongoing climate pressures.