Enhancing Resilience for Food and Nutrition Security in Small-islands Economies

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Small islands are remote from large markets and vulnerable to economic and natural shocks. With too little investment and difficulties in attracting youth, their agricultural sectors are stagnant, while diets are shifting away from local and healthy foods resulting in an increasing prevalence of diabetes and cardio-vascular problems. Bringing together experts from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, this workshop formulates proposals to the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (Samoa, September 2014) on two common food and nutrition problems of island developing states: how can indigenous knowledge and a revival of traditional foods help address the widespread problem of nutrition-related diseases; and what are the best practices in linking agriculture, health and tourism to create employment, reduce food imports and add value to local and regional trade. Special attention is given to smart public-private partnerships.

Panelists:

Gyan Chandra Acharya, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS

Michael Hailu, Director, CTA

Edwin Laurent, Senior Advisor, The Caribbean Green Economy Initiative

Mereia Volavola, Chief Executive Officer, Pacific Island Private Sector Organization (PIPSO)

Adimaimalaga Fanny Tafunai, Women in Business in Development, Samoa

Jethro Greene, Chief Coordinator, Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFAN)

Carmen Nurse, President, Caribbean Network of Rural Women Producers (CANROP)

Gibson Susumu, Food Security Expert, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)

Sant Kumar, President, Fiji Organic Producers Association, Foundation Member, Pacific Organic Producers Association (FOPA)

See more at: http://bit.ly/1onPvC4