Fiji is hosting regional agriculture and food systems workshops in Nadi as Pacific countries look to strengthen food security, rural livelihoods and climate-resilient farming.

The meetings bring together regional and international partners to share lessons from locally driven programs and improve climate-smart agriculture across the Pacific.

The work includes the Innovation Platform Workshop on Climate Smart Pacific Food Systems, held from 5 to 7 May, and a Knowledge Sharing and Learning Workshop focused on the Pacific Islands Rural and Agriculture Stimulus Facility (PIRAS).

Deputy Secretary for Agriculture Development Dr Tekini Nakidakida said climate resilience was central to protecting Pacific food systems.

"Agriculture is the backbone of our communities," he said.

"Strengthening climate resilience in our food systems is essential to ensuring food security, protecting livelihoods, and sustaining future generations."

The four-year Climate Smart Pacific Food Systems Program is being piloted in the Sigatoka Valley, in partnership with the Sigatoka Research Station.

The valley, often referred to as Fiji's "salad bowl", was selected because of its role in domestic food supply and export markets.

The region continues to face challenges including soil degradation, pest and disease pressures, flooding and climate variability.

The program aims to respond through climate-smart technologies, improved soil health, pest and disease management, post-harvest practices and stronger food value chains.

A separate Knowledge Sharing and Learning Workshop is also being held in Nadi to reflect on lessons from PIRAS, which was launched in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program has been implemented across Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, with a focus on food security and resilient rural economies.

Fiji's Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna said PIRAS had supported communities during a period of pressure on food systems and supply chains.

"PIRAS has played a critical role in supporting practical, locally driven solutions that have strengthened livelihoods, supported recovery, and built resilience among our farmers, fishers, and rural communities," he said.

"This workshop is more than a reflection exercise.

"It provides an opportunity for practitioners and partners to share innovations, operational lessons, and practical solutions that can be scaled and adapted across the region."