Soils were in the spotlight at this year’s Pacific Week of Agriculture (PWA), held in Nukuʻalofa, Kingdom of Tonga. The Hon. Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forests, Dr. Siosoua Halavātau, passionately championed the importance of soil health, calling it a cornerstone of Pacific livelihoods and identity. “Soil is more than a resource,” Dr. Halavātau emphasised. “For Tongans and the wider Pacific, it is a living connection between people, culture, and the land.” He warned that the decline in soil productivity is becoming an existential crisis for the region.
However, the Pacific is rising to the challenge. A regional soil workplan—shaped through consultations with soil professionals at the Darwin meeting (2023) and the Rotorua Soils Conference (2024)—was presented at a dedicated side event. This event was expertly facilitated by Dr. Gigi Woods and Associate Professor Vanessa Wong, and supported by the South Pacific Community (SPC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research New Zealand.
The workplan outlines clear priorities: strengthening education at all levels—from schools to farmers, extension officers, and researchers; addressing the widespread lack of soil analysis facilities in many countries; and the need for training, laboratory infrastructure, and national soil monitoring. It also calls on governments across the region to develop comprehensive soil strategies and policies to ensure coordinated, long-term action for soil health. With the support of Dr. Halavātau, these recommendations were formally endorsed by the Heads of Agriculture.
This successful and well-attended side event would not have been possible without the generous support of ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research), who funded the event and have been a major supporter of soil health initiatives across the Pacific. We would also like to give a special thanks to the Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Forests Tonga, who kindly waived the venue hire fees, enabling more regional delegates to attend and engage in vital discussions around soil sustainability.
The event also saw the official launch of the Pacific Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (PACS). Inspired by the global Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) movement, PACS aims to scale up investment in climate-resilient, nutritious crops, while placing soil health at the heart of regional food security and resilience.
Thanks to the FAO for providing photos for this post.
