The 2025 Biennial Meeting of the Pacific Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN) is officially underway in Nadi, Fiji, bringing together representatives from 15 Pacific Island countries, regional technical experts, development partners, and donor agencies in a powerful demonstration of regional collaboration.
Delivering the Keynote Address at the PAPGREN Opening ceremony, Fiji’s Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Forestry shared, “Our future lies in the health and strength of our biodiversity. And that every crop variety or seed we protect, multiply, and share carries within it our collective resilience, our heritage, and our potential.” Further stating, “But I say this as both a Minister and as someone who knows the land: seeds or varieties alone will not transform our agriculture”.
For the first time, Pacific Island nations are formalising their commitment to the Pacific Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), by confirming national focal points and establishing a permanent Steering Committee under the 2023 Charter. It’s a big step forward in ensuring the region has a clear, coordinated voice when it comes to the seeds and planting materials that underpin the region's food security and traditional diets.
Countries are also co-developing the new 2025–2027 PAPGREN Action Plan, which focuses on practical priorities such as conserving crop varieties, improving seed systems, and building the capacity of national institutions. These efforts are being aligned with key regional frameworks, including the Pacific Seed Systems Roadmap, the “Growing the Pacific” strategy, and the brand-new Pacific Agro-Biodiversity Conservation Strategy.
Hosted by the Pacific Community (SPC) and supported by the governments of Australia and New Zealand, the five-day event, running from 21 to 25 July, is under the theme: “Nurturing Pacific Seeds, Sustaining Pacific Futures.”
SPC’s Land Resources Division Director, Karen Mapusua, reminded participants, “The taro we eat, the yam we plant, they tell stories of shared knowledge, exchanged seeds, and our resilience as Pacific people,” she said. Karen laid out three urgent actions for the region:
- Strengthen governance by moving from interim to permanent coordination.
- Align actions across the Pacific to ensure national and regional efforts are working together.
- Mobilise greater support and visibility for the work being done to protect our food systems and rural livelihoods.
With technical backing from CePaCT (SPC’s Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees) and other partners, the meeting aims to strengthen links between national programs, such as those with Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, and regional scientific resources.
For more information, visit the SPC PAPGREN Website.
