Pacific Agriculture Scholarships, Support and Climate Resilience Program

Empowering Pacific scholars to drive agricultural innovation and resilience, the PASS program is transforming careers and communities across the region. 🎓💫

PASS program builds capabilities and careers in the Pacific Graduates of the ACIAR Pacific Agriculture Scholarships and Support (PASS) program reflect on the benefits it has brought them, with new opportunities in agricultural research and extension.

✨Thank you from the UniSC PASS-CR team.

Sadly, the University of the Sunshine Coast’s involvement in the Pacific Agriculture Scholarships, Support and Climate Resilience Program (PASS-CR) ends this week.

The team, led by Prof Steven Underhill and Dr Linda Wess, have made many positive contributions to the postgraduate journey of many PASS-CR scholars from Fiji National University and The University of the South Pacific.

We are honoured to have been a part of the -CR program since 2021 and wish the continuing and 2025 scholars much success in their studies.

🎄Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and please look out for future updates from Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) on their website and page.

ACPIR researchers Prof Patrick Nunn (UniSC) and Dr Suliasi Vunibola (University of Canterbury) at the DevNet 2024 Conference in Dunedin. The event from December 4th to 6th was hosted by University of Otago.

Prof Nunn was a keynote speaker at the event and spoke about his recent project looking at traditional and local knowledge for climate resilience in the Pacific.
Learn more: https://devnet.org.nz/devnet-2024/

👏 Congratulations to one of 's Pacific scholars, Elisaia Sylvester Ika, who graduated yesterday from Fiji National University with a Master of Science in Agriculture (Agribusiness).

Elisaia is a recipient of ACIAR's Pacific Agriculture Scholarships, Support and Climate Resilience Program. His research focused on "An analysis of Tongan farmers' and market vendors’ perceptions of domestic fruit production and marketing".

Thank you for your dedication and hard work, Elisaia. Wishing you continued success as you contribute to agricultural development in the Pacific. 🌱

Learn more about the PASS program: https://ow.ly/Y3PB50UqntM

| 🌴Fiji’s Senile Coconut Stems: A New Economic Opportunity

Yesterday, Hon. Alitia Bainivalu, the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, presented an update in Parliament on an exciting project transforming senile coconut stems into high-value engineered wood products.

The initiative, funded by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and supported by partners like the Pacific-Community-SPC and QDAF, is paving the way for Fiji to turn unproductive coconut trees into valuable resources for local and international markets. This project is not only creating new economic opportunities for farmers and industries but also championing sustainable forestry practices.

The Ministry of Forestry, Fiji in collaboration with private sector partners, is breaking new ground in innovation and building a brighter, sustainable future for Fiji.

🔗Read full statement here: https://shorturl.at/8aOSA

Celebrating our shared milestones and achievements at Fiji National University as we approach the close of 2024.

Together, we continue to grow, innovate, and build a brighter future for our students and community. Vinaka vakalevu for your dedication and teamwork ! 🎉📚

✨Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research PASS-CR scholars highlight.

Throughout the past two weeks, Kerininia Leaupepetele and Sateki Fangupo had the chance to be mentors for their University of the South Pacific buddies who were assisting the Monash University students under the Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) Program—their third cohort, and it was Kerinina's first time to be part of it.

This program focused on important topics such as climate change, agriculture, and sustainable development in the . Kerininia said it was a rewarding experience working with to support the Monash students as they explored these issues through workshops, field visits, and cultural activities.

Well done Kerininia and Sateki!

| Women’s Rights are Human Rights.

As our longest-tenured personnel within the Pacific-Community-SPC's Land Resources Division for 37 years, Rohini Prasad understands the importance of this statement and tries to make a difference by empowering and supporting women around her, in her everyday life and at her own scale.

At SPC's Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT), where Rohini has been working since the start of her career, she is championing women's representation where the great majority of the staff is women.

What does the mean to you?

✨Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research -CR Supervisor and Future Thinkers Awardee highlight.

Associate Professor Kader delivering the opening address as a regional expert on Soil Data Intepretation in the Pacific.