Latest news
Search news stories
Enter a keyword to search news.
Evaluating an alternative approach to sector development in Pacific island countries
Australia's development assistance program aims to drive economic prosperity by supporting key sectors to transition into innovative and high-value industries, promoting collaboration, commercialisation, stakeholder engagement, capacity building and training. The tilapia and beekeeping sectors are important income-generating livelihood activities for smallholder farmers in Fiji and other PIC's that have unrealised potential to grow and develop into innovative high-value agribusiness industries that are inclusive and contribute significantly to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. This project will support the transitioning of these sectors in Fiji through market-oriented development and sector strengthening, by supporting industry associations to become effective agents of industry progress, driving, and facilitating sector development, attaining stronger financial and operational stability post-donor funding. The project will grow partnerships between key industry and government departments for continued industry growth.
Livelihoods in Forest Ecosystem Recovery (LIFER)
This project is aimed at learning how to efficiently restore forests to meet critical needs of rural Solomon Islanders, accelerating and channelling forest development to support livelihoods. The LIFER project also aims to support positive leadership in forest governance to secure remaining forests and those restored. The consultative committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of Forestry and including officials from Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, the National Council of Women, other ministries, Church and civic leaders, and the private sector will be an important forum in which to debate and collaborate for sustainable forestry. LIFER addresses the urgent need for forest restoration to rebuild livelihoods in the Solomon Islands and it is a first step to develop enabling forest management technologies, so that as opportunities arise, local people and forest authorities have options to restore forests as they see fit. The project will cultivate social capital to enable those directly dependent upon forests to influence their use and management and will generate some of the scientific and social building blocks for the top-down reform that is needed.
[Read more about Livelihoods in Forest Ecosystem Recovery (LIFER)]
Food Loss in the Pangasius Catfish Value Chain of the Mekong River Basin
Globally, fisheries and aquaculture contribute to food security, nutrition, income, and livelihoods. Farmed and wild-caught catfish (Pangasius) generate incomes for smallholder farmers in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam across the Mekong River Basin. The fish also provide an important source of dietary protein and essential nutrients. Fluctuating commodity prices, climate change, COVID-19, consumer perceptions on food and health safety, socio-environmental and technological issues, and political changes have enormous impacts on the continued availability of catfish for human consumption. Reducing food loss and waste along the catfish value chain is critical to farmers, the private sector including agribusiness, government agencies, and all actors involved along the value chain to the consumer. Currently, there are gaps in knowledge of food loss and waste along the catfish value chain. This project will build capacity and strengthen understanding of possible interventions that would improve industrial processes to decrease food loss and waste in this value chain. This project is part of the Food Loss Research Program—a partnership between ACIAR and Canada’s International Research Development Centre. The program works with partners in developing countries to address food loss through innovative, locally driven solutions.
[Read more about Food Loss in the Pangasius Catfish Value Chain of the Mekong River Basin]
Developing Nut Industries in Bougainville
This project aims to diversify and expand smallholder incomes in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB) by participating in sustainable, indigenous nut industries. The research will assess ARoB nut supply, explore opportunities for smallholders and small-to-medium enterprises (SME), and identify successful interventions for developing nut products and linking to markets. The region heavily relies on smallholder agriculture, with two-thirds of its population being smallholder farmers. The Bougainville Government aims to diversify and increase cash crop exports by developing downstream cash-crop processing, entrepreneurial skills, and SME support. The research will contribute to global scientific knowledge by answering questions about nut processing methods, preserving nutritional values, and food safety. The project will build ARoB capacity in value-adding for smallholders, microenterprises, processors, and the government, ultimately achieving market access for nut products for ARoB stakeholders.
