A two-day workshop hosted by The University of the South Pacific (USP) through the Family, Farming, Lifestyle and Health (FALAH) Project is currently underway with the theme ‘Traditional knowledge and Local Practices of Food Systems in the Pacific (Terrestrial & Marine Ecosystems).’
With the focus on capturing the integration of modern farming practices with traditional means, the workshop is bringing together a consortium of 14 partners to share research ideas and updates under the FALAH project.
In his opening remarks, USP Directory Research Professor Sushil Kumar stressed the value of the theme in helping build the capacity of Pacific communities through research and integrating the knowledge that already exists within those communities.
“This year we have framed the theme of the conference which allows for the integration of Pacific knowledge and western scientific approaches in building our Pacific resilience,” he said.
“We hope that this two-day FALAH workshop and the fieldtrip organised will enrich and enhance knowledge exchange and sharing between our FALAH partners towards achieving the project deliverables.”
Delivering her address online, Her Excellency Barbara Plinkert, the Amabassador of the European Union (EU) to the Pacific expressed the importance of collaboration in driving sustainability for Pacific Island communities when it comes to their food systems.
“Family farming and traditional knowledge play a crucial role in ensuring household food security and enhancing the resilience of food systems,” she said.
“Integrating traditional knowledge into modern agricultural systems is therefore essential not only for preserving cultural identity but also for promoting food sovereignty and security.”
The workshop is conducted at the Novotel in Nadi and concludes today, 24 October.
The FALAH project falls under the European Commission Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions and Research Innovation Staff Exchange and 1.3 million euros was awarded to the consortium members of the project.
The participants would like to acknowledge the Agence Universitaine de la Francophonie (AUF) Developing Resilience through Capacity Building for FALAH in PICs (DeResCapFALAH) Project together with the FALAH project for joint-funding in bringing together this workshop and the two-day R Stats training for research students that was successfully conducted on 17-18 October 2024 at the USP Laucala Campus, Suva.
