Agrifood systems knowledge exchange through Australia-Pacific circular migration schemes

Article Environmental Sciences

Climate change adaptation in agriculture: Learning from an international labour mobility programme in Australia and the Pacific Islands region

Olivia Dun et al.

Summary: Climate change is expected to have a serious impact on agriculture and food security in Pacific Island countries. The combination of 'modern' and Indigenous agricultural practices and knowledge is necessary for adaptation. International labour mobility programs, such as Australia's Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP), provide opportunities for knowledge exchange and climate change adaptation in agriculture in the Pacific Islands. The participation in SWP allows workers to gain adaptive knowledge from their experience in Australia and share it with other Pacific Islanders.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY (2023)

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Article Food Science & Technology

Continuity and change in the contemporary Pacific food system

Neil L. Andrew et al.

Summary: The Pacific food system has become more integrated into global food regimes, affecting availability and consumption of food, population health, and vulnerability to external drivers. Despite doubling crop production in the last fifty years, it has not kept up with population growth, leading to increased reliance on imported foods and resulting in malnutrition and poor health outcomes. The proposal is to transition the Pacific food system towards a hybrid form that supports healthy regionally-produced food.

GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY-AGRICULTURE POLICY ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENT (2022)

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Article Environmental Studies

Local practices and production confer resilience to rural Pacific food systems during the COVID-19 pandemic

Caroline E. Ferguson et al.

Summary: The resilience of food systems is crucial for ensuring food security, and the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed varying levels of resilience in interconnected food systems worldwide. Local food production and sharing contribute to resilience, while imported foods can either aid or inhibit it. Countries reliant on food imports are more likely to experience food insecurity, but imported foods become critical in areas dealing with concurrent disasters. Policies should focus on bolstering sustainable local food production, reducing reliance on imports, and implementing measures to support food security after disasters.

MARINE POLICY (2022)

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Article Geography

Disruptive innovation in agriculture: Socio-cultural factors in technology adoption in the developing world

George N. Curry et al.

Summary: The low rate of technology adoption in developing countries is influenced by socio-cultural barriers, land pressure, past agricultural practices, and gender relations. Four case studies highlight the impact of these factors on technology adoption, showing how they can either facilitate or constrain the adoption process.

JOURNAL OF RURAL STUDIES (2021)

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Article Agriculture, Multidisciplinary

COVID-19 and food systems in Pacific Island Countries, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste: Opportunities for actions towards the sustainable development goals

Federico Davila et al.

Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on global food systems, particularly affecting Small Island Developing States. The study aimed to identify vulnerabilities, impacts, and opportunities for resilience and sustainable development in selected Pacific Island countries, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste. The major impacts have been on economies, posing risks to future food security and hampering progress towards Sustainable Development Goals.

AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS (2021)

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Article Development Studies

Seasonal Labor Mobility in the Pacific: Past Impacts, Future Prospects

John Gibson et al.

Summary: The Pacific islands exhibit weak economic growth and limited structural change compared to other developing countries in Asia due to remoteness and low economic density. Bilateral arrangements with Australia and New Zealand allow Pacific workers to seasonally migrate for higher-paying, more dynamic labor markets. Studies show positive impacts on labor-intensive sectors, workers with limited opportunities, and communities, but quantifying broader development impacts and host country benefits has been challenging. This paper reviews seasonal labor mobility schemes in the Pacific and provides new evidence on community-level and aggregate impacts.

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT REVIEW (2021)

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Article Environmental Sciences