June 2026
Tuesday 2
Pacific Farmer Organisations was pleased to support the Pacific School Food Network (PSFN) in hosting the very first Pacific School Food Talanoa, held from the 2nd to the 4th of June 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa in Nadi, Fiji.
Guided by the Talanoa approach — an inclusive Pacific tradition of dialogue that values respect and shared understanding — the three-day event brought together education, health, agriculture, climate, and finance stakeholders to share evidence, lived experience, and solutions, with the aim of amplifying Pacific voices in shaping and leading local and regional school food system agendas.
Over three packed days, the Talanoa moved through three distinct themes — understanding the system, transforming school food environments, and scaling and sustaining change — drawing together governments, researchers, farmers, educators, development partners, and community practitioners from across the Pacific region.
PFO played an active role throughout the event. On Day 1, Mohinesh Reddy, Executive Director of PFO, presented on integrating breadfruit into Tongan boarding schools, while Angela Birch, Program Manager M&E, shared insights from Atoll Farm-to-School programmes. On Day 2, Kyle Stice opened proceedings with reflections from PFO’s Participatory Canoe Exercise in Tonga — the organisation’s first-ever Farm to School event held during the 2024 Week of Action — and facilitated the school gardens session, while Angela Birch led Session 22, a hands-on workshop on strengthening partnerships between local farmers and schools. PFO member Kastom Gaden Association, represented by Lyndellar Sanau, also contributed to sessions on climate resilient food systems and school gardens, sharing practical lessons from farm-to-fork programmes in the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands.
The Talanoa concluded on Day 3 with the presentation of the draft Pacific School Food Strategic Action Plan and the draft Pacific School Food Declaration — a historic regional commitment to healthier, more resilient, and culturally grounded school food environments for every Pacific child.
The key outputs of the Talanoa included a Pacific School Food Declaration and Regional Action Agenda, co-created by participants to provide a forward-looking roadmap for climate resilient Pacific school food systems, aligned with national development priorities and global commitments including the SDGs and the School Meals Coalition.
PFO congratulates the Pacific School Food Network on the success of this milestone event and looks forward to continuing to work alongside partners across the region to strengthen farm-to-school systems and support healthier, more food-secure communities for Pacific children.