Regional organic body keen to plant trees at SIDS

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The Pacific Organic and Ethical Community – POETCom – is the governance body of the organics movement headquartered at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and it was present at the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States to support the Offset ISLANDS 2014 campaign and the awareness the Samoa Observer and Women in Business Development are raising.

“We are an organic agricultural organization that believes in sustainable productions systems and diversity and trees are an important part of sustainable systems, particularly when we are thinking about adaptation to climate change” says POETCom co-ordinator Karen Mapsua.

POETCom held a side event at the conference on Thursday, 4^th September, entitled Organic Islands, and the topics discussed included how organic agriculture can contribute to sustainable development, food security, environmental sustainability, people’s health and livelihoods. Among the speakers at the event was chef and author of Mea’ai Samoa – Recipes from the heart of Polynesia Robert Oliver, who is also the star of TV Show Real Pasifik and who touched the issues of local food systems and how they can be connected to markets and improve local diets. Other participants were farmer members representing five countries: Tonga, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Fiji and Samoa.

“Ideally, our attendees will be able to plant trees after Organic Islands if that is possible but with Women in Business Development’s nursery nearby, I am sure something can be arranged” declared Karen Mapusua.

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Photo credits: www.sidslive.com