Solomon Islands Pushes Agri-Food Reform at Asia-Pacific Food Forum
Solomon Islands says it will accelerate agri-food transformation, tackle climate and price pressures, and expand programs with FAO—while laying out six national priorities for agriculture and livestock.
Solomon Islands used a regional agriculture gathering to underline its push for faster agri-food reform and stronger food security across the Asia-Pacific.
Representing the Solomon Islands Government, Deputy Secretary Special Duties of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) Mr.. Simon Baete joined ministers, senior officials, development partners, private sector leaders, researchers, women entrepreneurs, and youth delegates at the Asia-Pacific Food Forum and the 38th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific, held from 20–24 April 2026 in Brunei Darussalam.
A push for agri-food systems transformation
Speaking during the Forum, Mr.. Baete thanked the host nation, Brunei Darussalam, for its hospitality and FAO for convening the meeting at a “critical time.” He pointed to growing pressures across the region on food security, livelihoods, and sustainable development—signals that agricultural planning can’t be treated as business-as-usual.
The discussions, according to the Solomon Islands delegation, centred on accelerating agri-food systems transformation.. That means combining strategic investment with science, innovation, and more inclusive leadership, while moving beyond isolated projects that don’t scale.. Participants flagged challenges that are increasingly familiar in the region: climate change, rising food prices, food safety concerns, labour shortages, rural-urban migration, and uneven access to finance and technology.
Why women and youth were central to the agenda
A notable thread at the Forum was the role of women in agriculture, aligned with the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026.. Delegates described women not only as farmers, but also as entrepreneurs, processors, traders, and community leaders—roles that can directly shape whether food systems are resilient, profitable, and fair.
For everyday communities, these conversations matter because empowerment isn’t abstract when it comes to inputs like finance, training, and market access.. When women can lead businesses along the value chain, the ripple effects can include steadier household incomes and better continuity from farm production to processing and sale.
The Solomon Islands delegation also reiterated its partnership with FAO, pointing to ongoing and upcoming initiatives.. These include the Sustainable Transformation of Domestic Agrifood Systems (STODAS) Project, the Agricultural Investment for Markets and Nutrition (AIM-N) Project, the forthcoming Food Systems Investment Programme (FSIP), and a Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) Project nearing final proposal submission.
They also referenced collaboration in digital agriculture, the One Country One Priority Product Initiative, and the Hand-in-Hand Initiative—areas aimed at strengthening how agriculture is planned, supported, and scaled.
Six national priorities for stronger food security
During the conference, Solomon Islands outlined six national priorities designed to attract partnership and support for its agriculture and livestock sectors.
First, the country plans to revitalise coconut and cocoa industries through replanting and rehabilitation of ageing plantations, supported by farm expansion and farmer programmes, improved logistics, and stronger pest and disease management.
Second, the delegation highlighted commercial agriculture and livestock development across commodities such as kava, rice, taro, oil palm, piggery, cattle, and honey. The emphasis here is not only production, but opportunities for youth, women, and agribusiness enterprises.
Third, Solomon Islands said it wants to strengthen poultry to reduce food costs and import dependence. The approach includes feed production, maize and corn development, breeding facilities, processing infrastructure, and farmer support initiatives.
Fourth, the country pointed to upgrading agricultural value chains and post-harvest systems. That includes investment in processing, packaging, transport, aggregation centres, and cool storage.
Fifth, digital transformation is also on the list, including a digital farmer registry and modern agricultural information systems. The stated goal is practical: better planning, extension services, market access, disaster response, and evidence-based decision-making.
Sixth, Solomon Islands said it will promote agricultural mechanisation to raise productivity, reduce labour pressures, and encourage greater youth participation in farming.
Constraints Small Island Developing States face—and what comes next
In remarks at the conference, Mr.. Baete acknowledged that the priorities are ambitious, but necessary.. He also described practical constraints that many Small Island Developing States face, including high transport costs, limited rural infrastructure, vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters, pest and disease risks, constrained access to finance, weak digital connectivity, and market access barriers for remote communities.
The key point, based on the Solomon Islands position, is that progress will depend on stronger partnerships across national, regional, and international levels.. Areas mentioned for deeper cooperation include agricultural research, climate-smart agriculture, biosecurity, livestock genetics, feed development, mechanisation, digital agriculture, cold storage, trade facilitation, and capacity building for farmers, youth, and women.
For readers watching from the islands, the underlying message is simple: agricultural transformation is not just about growing more food.. It is also about building the systems around farming—logistics, storage, safety, training, data, and fair access—so that households can handle shocks like price spikes and extreme weather.. In the longer term, if these priorities translate into consistent implementation, Solomon Islands could strengthen livelihoods while contributing more reliably to regional food security.
The MALD delegation closed by reaffirming the government’s commitment to building a productive, resilient, and inclusive agri-food system—one intended to support economic growth and deepen regional cooperation in the years ahead.