State of Food and Nutrition Security in the Pacific

Abstract

Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) are home to tremendously diverse food systems. These systems are made up of rich cultures, a growing young population, and diverse bio-geographic and multiple agro-ecological zones. This Pacific uniqueness, however, is being disrupted by historical international forces, food consumption behaviours, and climate change. The region's food systems currently face a triple burden of malnutrition, which when combined with poverty and climate change impacts, creates major food and nutrition security risks. In this synthesis chapter, we provide summary of evidence on the state of food and nutrition security in the Pacific using an expanded five pillar framework of food security. We present a synthesis of research and development dynamics in the context of availability, accessibility, stability, utilization, and agency as the five pillars of Pacific food and nutrition security. Agency is emphasized as a novel addition to capture the unique socio-cultural systems of the region that contribute to food systems. The future of Pacific food systems will depend on proactive focus on the multi-dimensional nature of food and nutrition security, and the use of integrative frameworks and policies will help address this important development opportunity.