Powerful conversations at the 2025 Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry (PWAF) in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 26-30 May highlighted how Australia and Pacific island countries are working together to drive regeneration, productivity, and resilience in our agriculture and forestry sectors.
PWAF is the Pacific’s premier agriculture event and is hosted by the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). PWAF welcomed a strong Australian delegation led by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
The event enabled us to deepen regional ties and align on shared goals across biosecurity, food security, and sustainable agriculture and forestry practices.
The Pacific Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (PACS) initiative was launched during PWAF, with Australia committing $4 million to support climate-resilient agriculture in the Pacific.
Speaking at the launch, Tina Hutchison, head of Australia’s delegation and DAFF’s Deputy Secretary of Agricultural Trade and Regulation, said: “This initiative will be shaped by local priorities to ensure enduring impacts for and by the Pacific.”
“Australia is proud to be supporting PACS through funding and technical support from DFAT, CSIRO, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, and DAFF.”
Ms Hutchison represented DAFF at the 10th Pacific Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services meeting, where discussions took place on shared priorities across agriculture and forestry sectors.
She also joined other Agriculture and Forestry Ministers as the Australian representative at the 4th Pacific Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry meeting.
In other key events, DAFF’s delegation joined the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and CSIRO to share lessons from the Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework and explore how data can drive a climate-smart agriculture sector.
Special Representative for Australian Agriculture, Su McCluskey, also hosted a ‘Celebrating Women’s Leadership in Agriculture’ panel, which highlighted the important role of Pacific women in shaping the sector's future.
Australia’s commitment reflects a long-term partnership approach — supporting Pacific-led initiatives like the ‘Growing the Pacific 2050 Strategy for Agriculture and Forestry’ and fostering collaboration to build stronger, more sustainable food systems across our region.
