Explore Official Dialogue Feedback

In the second meeting of the “Local implications of global challenges” Dialogue it comprised five round tables, which dealt with the following topics: Biodiversity; Open Landscapes; Invasive species; Water resources & supply and Marine resources. The major focus was to determine our vision and goals for the Israeli food systems in the year 2030. There was a wide consensus that in our vision we will have a clear, detailed governmental “Food safety policy”, and according to this policy, the targets, working plans, monitoring-systems, risk-assessments and feedbacks concerning food and... Read more water supply, environmental and biodiversity needs will be determined. In the “Biodiversity” vision we should adopt a holistic point of view regarding nature and environment as crucial-integrated partner in agriculture and food-systems demands. “Marine Resources” vision is to increase the local consumption by concentrating in the local fishery and aquaculture as well as shifting to consumption of species of low trophic levels. In our vision we will develop high-technology methods to enhance prevention, early and quick identification of invasive species. We will to improve agriculture in many aspects and create new synergism like the use of agrovoltaic systems. Read less

Food security: There was very little disagreement on vision in this policy discussion. Divergence is likely to emerge in the details relating to concrete policy priorities in the solutions phase of the discussion. Communication and social media: • What should be the approach regarding collaboration with the food industry: what could be the benefits and what could be the risks? • The industry has a lot of resources and could use the notion of sustainability to benefit its interests. Food industry: The main area of divergence was the regulation issues: the industry reps demand self-regulatio... Read moren on advertising, for example, and the public reps demand mandatory regulations, including taxes and subsidies. Communication and social media There was a debate on how to recruit the different channels and tracks to the implementation of the nutrition and sustainable challenges ahead Read less

Urban food systems: • Adopting regulation to enable urban agriculture • Establishing Healthy sustainable nutrition department in all municipalities to lead the transformation • Healthy and sustainable nutrition as a core subject thru school years from kindergarten to graduation • Promoting healthy and sustainable food procurement and consumption all over urban food systems

Food security 1) Create a legislative and regulatory framework that will define food security broadly, and consider it a national government priority, for social resilience and domestic and national security. This must be reflected in adequate budgetary appropriations and legislation. 2) Enhance governance, by creating an overarching, integrated, inter-ministerial policy review to develop a food systems master plan to ensure food security in its broad definition. 3) Define outcome measures and targets, assign responsibility for monitoring, formative and evaluative research 4) Find independent ... Read moreacademic research to enhance local evidence based evaluation of policy alternatives 5) Include health and sustainability in all food security policy objectives 6) Develop a master plan for Israeli agriculture taking into consideration sustainability, climate change threats, economic planning 7) Enhance the social safety net and create specific government programs for food aid with enhancement of local government involvement, a rebalancing of roles and responsibilities of government vs. third sector NGOs. Communication and social media:  To strengthen the positive attributes of traditional food and home cooking and cultural orientations of frugality instead of the consumption of highly processed foods.  To reinstate respect for the ingredients used and the process of preparation.  To reframe ecological issues so they will not be perceived as controversial and to identify commonly perceived risks or threats to enable public mobilization and support across groups  To develop critical literacy skills in the public regarding misinformation and disinformation regarding food-related issues. Food waste and food loss: • Policy: Allocation of government budgets for academic research on reducing food waste and reducing depreciation, allocation of government budgets for research and development of smart packaging, extending shelf life, etc. • Education and behavioral change: A national campaign to prevent and reduce food waste, assimilation of depreciation management and their prevention in vocational curricula - food engineering, nutrition, cooking schools, etc. Assimilation of food waste, wise consumption, and food supply chain in school curricula • Industry: Establishment of an industrial symbiosis model for the food industry, adoption of dynamic pricing among retail chains , Removing the date labels from fresh produce and other products with long shelf-life, in accordance with the EU Directive on food information to consumers • Food rescue: Establishment of a national food rescue system, allocation of a government budget for the establishment / improvement of a logistical infrastructure for food rescue, Implement in government RFP's an incentive for food donation by setting threshold conditions or bonus points for bidders who present a contract with a food bank • Food waste reduction: Implementing PAYT model among food businesses , Forcing large waste producers (hotels, catering, military bases) to source separate organic waste, Providing incentives to promote the use of by-products of the industry for the production of green electricity on-site Food industry: • Establishment of a national food authority - the unification of authorities will enable solving conflicting regulations, duplication of regulations and outdated regulations. • Establishment of a national enterprise for health promotion, which will include all stakeholders- farmers, industrialists, importers, exporters, retailers, regulators, academics, professionals, academia, etc. • Establishment of a national database that will provide an agreed data (agreed upon all- industry and authorities) on the food market, consumption, and effects on health. • Establishing a joint management of agriculture and industry. Connecting health-oriented agriculture to local production by the industry. Read less

Food security • Israel’s government must take responsibility for solving the problem of food insecurity. It is inexcusable that one-fifth of citizens suffer from food insecurity and a tenth from severe food insecurity. At the very least, the eradication of severe food insecurity should be defined as a primary policy target. • The narrow policy perspective that views food security primarily as a problem of poverty and welfare must be broadened. Legislative reform is required to grant authority and funding to the council, or preferably to creating an alternative mechanism with broad author... Read moreity to integrate and coordinate food security policy between ministries including health, economics, agriculture and environmental considerations. • Moreover, solving the food insecurity crisis requires transforming the food system in Israel. This will require policy integration by a leading ministry with the political power and will to convene and coordinate all relevant ministries and settle contradictions and priorities between policy objectives. This could be advanced by establishing an inter-ministerial committee of director generals to integrate food security policy in all its dimensions - and to update policy and legislation accordingly. • To avoid contradictions between food policies of different ministries, a Food Health and Sustainability Impact Assessment should be required much as any policy initiative today requires an Environmental Impact Assessment. • A “Health in all policy” approach must be adopted across all policy impacting the food system, to advance obesity prevention and reduction of industrialized food consumption as required for the health of the nation. Industry participation must be part of the solution; however, a sustainable and healthy food system will require regulation of the food industry, to ensure the improvement of the nutritional values of the national food supply. • Strengthening the purchasing power and promotion of employment and productivity of underprivileged populations is necessary but not sufficient to reduce food insecurity. Food policy must control the high price of food and set targets for an affordable healthy food basket prioritizing Israeli agriculture. This will require an inclusive legislative framework. • All food security policy must include defined objectives and priorities, with mandatory, measurable goals and routine monitoring. These should include including quality indicators of food systems and the extent of food insecurity. Routine periodic surveys must be conducted and published by law. • Evidence based Food Security policy and food system transformation requires collaboration with academia, including funding for independent formative and evaluative research in Israel to examine policy alternatives based on local data. • Civil and consumer society and the media must continue to place the issue at the center of the public agenda to obtain political will for food system transformation. Communication and social media: • To identify the particular circumstances and needs of diverse groups and not treat them as homogeneous, in order to create a viable and culture-centered communication program. • To make knowledge of the issues more accessible to journalists and provide experts with communication training so that they can convey the information in a clear and effective manner. • To create initiatives to provide journalists and social media “influencers” with knowledge and analytic skills regarding ecological issues. Food industry: • Creating a system of incentives and support for small industry, especially for specific products that can be adapted to small industry. • Subsidies and tax incentives for safe and nutritious foods • Improving the recycling infrastructure of packaging and food waste, and creating a specific plan for the food industry to move to a zero emission processes. • Gradual process of changing preferences and taste - gradual reductions in addictive and harmful substances. • Budgeting public research on the impact of food on health • Measurable target presented: By 2030, at least 25% of the products manufactured by the industry will be such there is no debate regarding their health (the World Health Organization list as a reference). Urban food systems • Producing 10% of the national agriculture production by 2030 • To arrange the regulation needed for transforming the urban food system to healthy and sustainable • Allocation of public areas for dual uses including urban agriculture for the local population • Establishing Healthy sustainable nutrition department in all municipalities to lead the transformation • Regulating reducing food waste from the origin and inceptives saving healthy foods from turning to food waste • Promoting healthy and sustainable food procurement and consumption all over food systems Read less

The focus of the dialogue was: Food security, food industry, food waste and food loss, urban food systems and Social Marketing and Communication and social media. Food security: The Focus of this national dialogue was to discuss participant’s vision for achieving SDG #2 – Zero Hunger by 2030, with an emphasis on solving Israeli’s food insecurity crisis affecting nearly one fifth of the population. The dialog aimed to bring together perspectives from different government agencies and to challenge the conventional wisdom, reflected in current legislation, policy and prevailing ideology. Cu... Read morerrently food insecurity in Israelis largely viewed as a poverty and welfare issue, whose solution is to increase participation in the workforce and earning power in the long term, and increase free-market competition and food imports, with health and agriculture as irrelevant to the problem, and accessible food supply and food prices to all, as separate from food insecurity. Participants were invited to discuss their vision of an integrated national food security policy that would overcome these divides and barriers in order to eliminate food insecurity in Israel. Communication and social media: Discussed the goals to achieve by 2030 in terms of enhancing Knowledge and skills, take into consideration Culture and traditions, use different Strategic and Social Marketing Planning to adjust the characteristics of different sectors, and increasing media coverage. Food industry: Dealt with the transformation that the food industry would needs to go through- in terms of organizational changes (from within the industry), operational aspects (the raw materials, the production mix) and regulatory changes together with the required collaborations between science and industry. Urban Food Systems: To lead transformation in urban and reginal food systems, to ensure food security to all, to promote urban agriculture, small businesses with emphasis on innovation' women livelihoods and sustainable local economies. Read less

Some of the areas in which participants had different opinions are described below. Strand 1 – Access to economic opportunities Traditional knowledge and modern knowledge gained need to be translated into ACTIONS, as the ultimate is the BEHAVIOUR CHANGE that needs to happen by individuals within all our households. Implementations of new farming techniques that is more sustainable. Information on economic opportunities are made available in the communities but due to limited understanding or education, people are unable to read properly and/or understand the economic opportunities available ... Read moreStrand 2 – Access to productive resources and services Food producers have food produce but are often faced with access problem due to remoteness and out of existing infrastructures. Empower youths to plant by breaking community perception that farming is just for those who have not been able to succeed in other areas in their lives. Messaging on healthy foods is quite low compared to Coca Cola and Fanta, it might be worthwhile for stronger messages on healthy foods. Getting food from the market doesn't mean it is healthy - farmers need to be aware of the implications of chemical insecticide that we as consumers ingest due to unethical practices. Many policies are discussed only at national level but it is really important to be able to contextualise policies to community level and are sustainable. Transfer of skills and technologies on the various animal science disciplines to make livestock production attractive and profitable to farmers, thus creating employment opportunities, increasing rural incomes and reducing rural urban migration. Strand 3 - Gender Inequality in the Food System At community level there are cultural barriers. Communal work is encouraged in our communities, however women, men and youth have their own groups to carry out their community work. There is a need to break that cultural barrier so that work is not seen to be done in isolation but something through collaboration and inclusive. We need an assessment tool for food distribution in order to identify those in need for food distribution during this pandemic and assist government to focus their intervention. The absence of this assessment tool put those that cannot called the helpline or have access to this service into disadvantage. Free trainings and workshops for women into farming would create some mobility and having investor ready projects supported by government subsidies targeted to women only will be a great incentive. Highlighting successful women in agriculture and hands-on farming through media to motivate women who desire but lack the confidence to step into this field as they are usually left as assistants to their husbands who are active farmers. Read less

Strand 1 – Access to economic opportunities Groups with less economic opportunities in Fiji have less ability to cope with multiple shocks such as cyclones and the pandemic. Generally, these are people with lower levels of education, women, girls and youth, the informal sector and physically challenged people. These groups also lack information and awareness of the different support mechanisms available to assist them. Creating economic opportunities should include linking subsistence farmers to markets and institutionalizing value chains. Value addition activities should be promoted. Assist... Read moreing women to access finance is key to empowering women entrepreneurs. Government, land owners and key stakeholders should explore land tenure and finance to attract more investments in the agriculture sector. Need better targeted trainings and capacity building programmes. Sub-division housing policies should include backyards for home gardening needs. School gardens should be brought back into the curriculum. Need more innovative local agriculture, fisheries, cooking segments on TV etc., to educate and inspire Fijians. Digital technology and platforms must be explored to facilitate access to economic opportunities. There are many good programmes implemented by various ministries, development agencies, NGOs and faith-based organisations. Coordination and collaboration must be strengthened and there should be stronger monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Furthermore, the solesolevaki (working together) tradition should be encouraged and supported. Most traditional knowledge and sustainable practices are underestimated in providing economic opportunities for people, particularly during the pandemic. Strand 2 – Access to productive resources and services Social inequalities, power relations, geographical remoteness mean some groups have less access to productive infrastructure and services therefore less likely to have access to economic opportunities. Solutions to address accessibility must take into consideration the impact of climate change, natural disasters and opportunities that digital technology can provide in closing the information gap or enhancing coordination amongst different stakeholders to bring about efficiency. Solutions must be inclusive, reflecting the views of key stakeholders, including traditional leaders, women and youth. Policies must better link nutrition back to agriculture production. They must translate to the local, grass root level otherwise they will not be sustainable – this means genuine collaboration between key government ministries, provincial councils, grassroot mobilizers etc., and the business communities. A “food protection” think tank should be established to continually discuss and propose solutions for food security during pandemics and natural disasters. A key stakeholder in the nutrition agenda of the family is the mother, therefore mothers should be empowered by involving them in discussions so that decision makers are able to better understand the nutrition choices they make. Government to consider having an insurance scheme for agriculture sector. Strand 3 - Gender Inequality in the Food System Markets are an important component of the food system and women make up more than 50% of market vendors in Fiji, providing livelihood and economic opportunities for them. However, they face a number of challenges that further prevent them from benefitting from the same opportunities as their male counterparts, e.g., they have less visibility in the digital space and thus lose out on opportunities for on-line sales. CV19 has further exposed their vulnerabilities as they struggle to transport their produce to the market place due to border restrictions. In order to close the inequality gap, policies must respond to the needs and priorities of women., e.g., internet coverage in rural areas and providing access to smart phones targeting women, women assisting women transport their produce to the border during lockdowns and targeting women for training and capacity building programmes. An assessment of impact of backyard garden initiative on food security, nutrition. Read less

Main findings and conclusions A summary of the main outcomes of the Group Discussions is reported in the next section, however, below are additional findings across the three thematic areas: Advancing equitable livelihoods in the food systems requires an intersectional perspective when considering disadvantaged groups such as women, girls and youth, people with disabilities, low skilled and low levels of educated persons. Policy makers should look at both creating economic opportunities as well as removing the barriers faced by disadvantaged groups so that no one is left behind. These barriers... Read more include social, physical, institutional, structural, environmental, distance, class etc. Building resilience These disadvantaged groups are not able to cope with the multiple shocks of natural disasters and pandemics such as COVID19. Therefore, any long-term initiatives to provide economic and livelihood opportunities must also build resilience in these groups through diversification of activities, facilitating access to financial services, encouraging the establishment of home gardens, providing agriculture insurance, recognizing the value of traditional knowledge and practices in sustaining food systems and having a communal storage facility where people can store their crops, livestock, assets during disasters. Strengthening collaboration and coordination There are many innovative and beneficial initiatives implemented by government, development agencies, NGOs etc., that could bring about transformative changes in the food systems on a bigger scale. However, this is not happening as there needs to be better collaboration and coordination amongst the different stakeholders. A mechanism such as a “food protection” think tank should be established to explore how collaboration and coordination amongst the various stakeholders can be improved. Addressing gender inequality Policy makers must recognise women and youth as leaders and influencers of the food system and involve them in decision making at all levels. Women have less visibility in the digital space and this limits their access to economic and livelihood opportunities. Better sex-disaggregated data is needed to understand their needs and priorities and inform policy makers. Digital technology Digital technology is an invaluable educational and information tool in closing the information gap and assessing economic opportunities. Government should ensure women are more visible in the digital space by providing access to mobile phones and internet in rural areas. New opportunities COVID19 has increased appreciation for local produce and food producers. Government to work with food producers and sellers, hotel chefs and continue to encourage use of local produce under Fijian made branding. TV shows and digital platforms should showcase innovative cooking and food programmes showing local and nutritious foods, value addition tutorials, create a gastronomical culture in Fiji etc. Government should work with farmers, and private sector to institutionalize COVID19 safe measures from farm level to plate to avoid disruption of supply chains and inspire confidence of supermarkets and consumers. Read less

The Dialogue focused on a comprehensive exploration of Fiji’s food systems as follows: Setting the scene: Poverty Status in Fiji: Fiji Bureau of Statistics According to the 2019-20 Household & Income Expenditure Survey, national poverty rates stand at 29.9 % and more attention should focus on rural areas (41.5%) and the Eastern Division (42.7%) which recorded the poorest. Poverty rates were high amongst individuals living with household heads with low education attainment, employed in the agriculture sector and engaged as subsistence and family/community worker. Employment income account... Read mores for 74% of the total household income. In 2019-20, only 4% of the total household income in Fiji received by the poor compared to 22% of the total household income received by the rich households. Similar distribution was evident in consumption. Strand 1 - Inequality in Access to Economic Opportunities: International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) In addressing inequality in access to economic opportunities, IFAD focused on countries strategies defined by governments, targeting hard to reach poor rural people, strong focus on women and new emphasis on youth. In the Pacific, IFAD has been working through partnership with local NGOs in community development, improving access to markets, designing investment projects that engage civil society, supporting inclusive value chains, promoting integrated farming systems and strengthening farmers organisations. IFAD’s transformative approach include multi-stakeholder engagement, leveraging on different partner’s strengths, and promoting community engagement and capacity building as key aspects to ensure ownership and intervention’s long-term success. Linking small holders into established or new value chains, data is very important: need to know where are the poor, start small, implement, measure effectiveness and scale-up. Strand 2 - Inequality in Access to Productive Resources and Services: Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) A snapshot of farmer’s distribution in Fiji showed that there are 1,544 (2%) commercial, 3,659 (5%) semi-commercial and 65,970 (93%) subsistence farmers in the country. The types of assistance provided by MoA include Infrastructure and Mechanization (e.g construction of farm roads), Processing/Distributing/Marketing (e.g construction of packing sheds) and Services (e.g procurement of wooden & fibre glass boats). In the monitoring of projects, MOA found 73% of implemented projects are successful in achieving its intended objective, 88% of assisted projects have access to stable markets, 14% of assistance has been provided to female beneficiaries in the past 3 years and 5% of farmers registered under the so-called Committee on Better Utilization of Land, CBUL, are women. Some of the issues/gaps identified are lack of systematic approach in capturing participation of women in agriculture, reliance on government assistance and reactiveness to disasters rather than being proactive. The challenges faced are culture and traditional roles and responsibilities of women, accessibility to assistance by maritime and rural communities and general mindset of the population. Game changing solution include communal storage facility (cold storage) for disaster and urban agriculture (planting fruit trees instead of empty green spaces, spice garden, mini-container gardens of edible plants and plant both edible and decorative plants etc.) Strand 3 - Gender Inequalities in the Food System: Department for Women (DOW-MWCPA) The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation presented some of the gender issues in the Fiji food systems. Women contributions are less visible and not considered as professional farmers/fishers and more related to subsistence or informal income generation activities. Unequal access to productive resources and services limits women’s productive potential in the sector. Unequal employment opportunities, with heavy workloads for women with many responsibilities despite the lack of resources and being responsible for children, food security and nutrition, were highlighted as part of the barriers faced by women. Read less

An area of divergence identified during discussions was related to trade-offs between private sector and commerce and health with regards to the marketing of unhealthy food with some participants more/less supportive of stronger regulation. Some aspects related to industry activity and its impact on ecosystems were also discussed. Governments are trying to reduce emissions, and communication need to be strengthened with the private sector on different topics, as consumption on energy. For example, the food industry should use processing techniques that reduce energy consumption. There are some... Read more trade-offs between the need to protect the current ecosystems within a landscape and produce from the agricultural working lands. Sustainable intensification of production that follows the principles of conservation agriculture (climate smart and environmentally friendly) should be prioritised. Finance in the right way can be a solution; others see financial actors as a threat, especially with industries that may be driven by a short-term agenda. Discussion should be inclusive, incorporating public and private sector, farmers, development partners, etc. Responsibility with regards to the Food Systems and the need to protect, restore and manage them should be a matter of survival NOT only as a reporting mechanism. Not only the government is responsible for this, but all the stakeholders may play an advocacy role. Read less

Discussion within the three groups presented a number of common trends and issues, as described below. Multi-sectoral collaboration An important transformative solution is to strengthen our government capacity to work interactively and collaboratively with other agencies and partners to find better solutions and use best practices. Policies from different sectors on different topics related to the food system (food security, climate change, protection of oceans etc.) need to be aligned. Policy and governance are key to transformation. Holistic approach A Reef to Ridge approach seems relevant f... Read moreor Fiji, looking at agro-forestry systems and encouraging small holder farmers to farm in one particular area while protecting another. In order to protect our oceans, our seabeds we need to first protect what we are doing on land which eventually goes down to the rivers and seas, as for example fertilizers. Some ideas best practices from other countries with similar contexts can help to find ways to support both the nutritional content of food, which can reduce NCDs but can also protect and conserve the environment. Home Gardening should be part and daily routine of our life. Farmers need to add value to their crops (examples Uto flour/banana chips/cassava flour) for self-consumption (producing their own food from available resources) and to improve their markets, for example through food deliveries from rural to urban areas (registering for Bula Market Fiji Programme). Working with the different partners in the food system (food processors) is important to improve the quality of foods being produced, advertised, consumed by the public. Education Discussion has to go into the education system, integrating agriculture science and home economics from primary school level and prioritizing the young generations and involving the Ministry of Education. Strengthen training for the traditional leaders in the landowning units so that they become key advocates to the people on sustainable resource use and protection of our biodiversity. Empower the people with knowledge to strengthen ownership of our natural resources. We need educated farmers that are equipped with both traditional knowledge (traditional crop varieties and climate resilient crops) and the latest scientific technology that takes into account the ecosystem that they are farming in to produce their products. Strategic Collaboration is needed for research and education/training getting together government, regional organizations, international research organizations, national and regional universities, NGOs, communities etc. and sharing resources and knowledge (Vocational Education and Farmer Field Schools (FFS) including the Fijian concept of ‘solesolevaki’ were mentioned as positive examples). Technology The development of digital platforms accessible to farmers/end-users to ensure a knowledge framework providing information and guidance for design, planning and implementation of their activities was suggested. Some technical aspects to be address with digital tools were related to the monitoring of the agriculture activity, a digital plant repository, the environmental assessment of rivers and other waterways, the control of invasive species (crops) and better connection to the market. Block chain technology and digitalization can play a key role, and help to engage younger people in te food system. Some examples (drones for monitoring land use changes, devices measuring changes of ocean temperature etc.) were mentioned. Inclusion Gender inclusivity is important as well as finding better ways of making everyone being part of the solution and decision making. Likewise other minorities, and those less fortunate like the disabled need to be included. To facilitate this, government line ministries may involve municipal councils to get women involved. Information needs to be brought to their level, language, applicability of implementation etc. Behavioral change Food habits need to change. Reduce importation of goods to promote local healthier foods and develop local products. However, demand for processed food still remains high. Better informing and advising is needed. Read less

1. Protect Food systems play a huge part in the local ecosystems and would be beneficial for the environment for stakeholders in the food systems to investigate innovative ways of ensuring a safer and healthier environment. Natural ecosystem are amply recognised as part of the food systems in the rural areas but not so much in urban regions. For example, forests are important not only to produce forest products but also for productivity of agriculture, helps to avoid soil degradation, capture water, mangroves, all spices…Community awareness needed for people to understand the importance of p... Read morerotecting the forest as unique space for biodiversity e.g. tree frogs, or plants, protection of watershed/water sources etc. and increase their knowledge and skills for managing sustainably land & forest (restoring degraded land areas, participating in agro-forestry systems etc.). Research, collaboration, and stakeholder involvement including private sector, with an emphasis on data collection and analysis is key in order to understand a way forward to protect our environment. This also includes blue economy for livelihoods, capitalising related services and resources not only the income that it may provide. In this sense, an overarching policy framework needed with collaborations from all the ministries in terms of biodiversity and sustainable use of our natural resources, avoiding silos. Some barriers identified to achieve nature-positive production in Fiji were related to need to review policies and legislation in protected areas; need to strengthen data generation and management within Government; financing of the ministries to carry out the work and implement, monitor and evaluate existing policies; poor coordination between Government agencies and departments; lack of awareness on the importance of the protection of species, impacts of farming on habitats, species etc. People on the ground needs to be informed and understand how to preserve ecosystem, use of pesticides, avoid sea pollution etc. 2. Manage Combined systems with trees, animals and crops (agroforestry, agrosilvicultural, silvopastoral etc.) were identified in the discussion as essential when managing existing food production systems to benefit both nature and people. Other important aspects that need some improvements in the food system are soil conservation, a seed system and prioritizing efforts to include Nutrition as a priority in the Food Systems, with better access (transport, distribution etc.) to nature fresh foods prioritized for consumption versus commodities as flour, rice etc. There is a range of food production systems and potential products that can be applied successfully to different contexts. The smallholder farmers as implementers need to be aware of their farming options and the benefits of protection of ecosystems and biodiversity. A model based on Food System Clusters placing more management responsibilities on the people and less on the government was discussed as a potential solution when there is natural a disaster with unexpected challenges towards Food Security and Nutrition. 3. Restore Restoration is only achieved through inter connectedness with the other areas of Protection and Management. There are some ongoing initiatives that can be used, as the Grow Your Own Food Guide for community training on home gardens existing tools – promoted by the ministries of agriculture and health. This can be complemented by an accompanying app – the Mai Kana app that discusses planting and maintaining home gardens. There is a need to revert to traditional food systems, with crop species that are climate resilient and use of local organic fertilisers. Also important to improve skills for managing fisheries, mangroves – all part of the ecosystem Some barriers identified were related to the empowerment of women and local communities, a more inclusive approach is needed with people able to formulate strategic choices and control resources and decisions. Eg. Women market vendors are left out of village and community discussions and decisions, they are not informed. Ownership is a key factor to ensuring that information is received, absorbed and then used appropriately. Financing and resources to address food system initiatives are still scarce. Pesticide regulations and policy to control the use of pesticides need to be updated. Read less

1. Protect, Wildlife Conservation Society The COVID-19 pandemic is contributing to an overlapping crisis in terms of biodiversity loss, climate change and unsustainable development, which is worsening and deepening due to the current health crisis. Government and financial institutions investments in the pandemic recovery are an opportunity to alleviate the global crisis by supporting and protecting natural systems, including our food systems. Nature-positive food production systems recognize that biodiversity underpins the delivery of all ecosystem services on which humanity depends on. Most ... Read morefood production hinges on the wise management of ecosystem services. Protected and healthy ecosystems are the best way to ensure productive agriculture and nutritious foods and biodiversity for Fiji. The current biodiversity crisis is evidence of our unsustainable use of natural systems, with agriculture being responsible for 80% of global deforestation. Drivers linked to food production cause 50% of freshwater biodiversity loss. There are some tools to protect biodiversity such as protected areas, land-sea planning and management and nature-based solutions. Policy and legislation to protect species and natural habitats are also key. We need to understand how the Sustainable Development Goals relate to one another and how these goals relate to our country policy and at the lowest level to protect our food systems. 2. Manage, Ministry of Forestry There needs to be a general appreciation for nature-based solutions, with lot of space for solutions harnessing economic potential especially in these uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lot of this work is outdoor based, so it is safer in terms of workplace opportunities. There is a pressing need for urban forestry policy and governance as existing policy is fragmented with lots of underutilized land, especially communal spaces in urban areas. Nature-based solutions will lead to optimally utilized resources through the realization of economic potential in food forest nutrition. This can develop open green spaces through urban forestry implementation and provided beneficial outcomes when looking at it holistically. Food forests are complex systems that may have from 3-9 layers with tall trees that act as wind breakers, smaller trees such as nut and spice trees, shrubs and groundcovers. They have the potential to greatly contribute to the economy providing trees to people willing to buy and processing plants and other products to end users that are sold at retail outlets 3. Restore, Conservation International The regenerative productive farming sector can provide benefits and services while creating rural employment and sustaining livelihoods. There needs to be a paradigm shift to address the trade off in land uses and encourages communication and exchange of ideas from all multi stakeholder groups. There needs to be a departure from sectoral and siloed views of landuse to build on complimentary functions within the whole landscape focussing on people centred activities moving away from Eco-centred goals of sectoral management. Sustainable land management involves of all stakeholders and bring about discussion for proper landuse planning and adoption of sustainable practises in the long-term commitment to integrated approaches for land management. Landscape restoration applies ecological concepts and principles to optimise the interactions of plants, animals, and humans to the environment from the ridge top to the coast. By building synergies across landscapes we are conserving above and below ground biodiversity as well as cultural knowledge diversity. This approach incorporates endangered species, carbon sequestration, adaptation to climate change and improve food security, and can be passive as when creating nature reserves where nature looks after it or very active and labour intensive, integrating local knowledge and resources to manage an area. For landscape restoration we need to have enabling conditions such as district level landuse plans, landowners to adopt nature-based solutions, enhance small holder and traditional farming systems, integrate best practises based on locally a Read less