Tonga is among Pacific nations eligible to pilot a new agricultural initiative aimed at enhancing climate resilience and food security.
The Pacific Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (PACS) was officially launched in Nuku’alofa during the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry (PWAF) 2025. The initiative seeks to enhance soil health and promote climate-adapted crops across the Pacific Islands.
Australia has committed AUD 4 million to the program, with AUD 1 million allocated for technical support from the CSIRO and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Additional support comes from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Karen Mapusua, Director of the Pacific Community’s Land Resources Division, expressed gratitude for the support, stating, “The goal is to strengthen our countries and our people in the face of climate change and to be more resilient and have healthy future generations.”
Tonga’s eligibility for PACS aligns with its ongoing efforts to enhance sustainable agriculture. Recent initiatives include training smallholder farmers in organic and agroecological practices and implementing Participatory Guarantee Systems for organic certification.
In its foundational phase, PACS will conduct regional consultations to identify approximately 20 priority crops that are nutritious, climate-resilient, and beneficial for soil health. Country-level assessments will be undertaken in three pilot countries, including Tonga, to evaluate existing knowledge and identify areas requiring further investment.
The program aligns with Tonga’s national goals to enhance agricultural resilience and reduce dependence on food imports. According to the Tonga Agriculture Policy Bank, agriculture contributes 16% to the nation’s GDP and employs a significant portion of the rural population.
PACS builds upon the global Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) movement, initially launched in Africa in 2023, and represents a collaborative effort among Pacific nations to address the challenges posed by climate change to food systems.
The PACS initiative supports regional strategies such as the “Growing the Pacific – 2050 Strategy for Pacific Agriculture and Forestry,” which emphasises the need for climate-resilient crops and sustainable land management.
