Unlocking the inherent potential of plant genetic resources: food security and climate adaptation strategy in Fiji and the Pacific

Abstract

Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are the center of origin and diversity for several root, fruit and nut crops, which are indispensable for food security, rural livelihoods, and cultural identity of local communities. However, declining genetic diversity of traditional food crops and high vulnerability to climate change are major impediments for maintaining agricultural productivity. Limited initiatives to achieve food self-sufficiency and utilization of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) for enhancing resilience of agro-ecosystems are other serious constraints. This review focuses on the visible and anticipated impacts of climate ge, on major food and tree crops in agriculture and agroforestry systems in the PICs. We argue that crop improvement through plant breeding is a viable strategy to enhance food security and climatic resilience in the region. The exploitation of adaptive traits: abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, yield and nutritional efficiency, is imperative in a world threatened by climatic extremes. However, the insular constraints of Fiji and other small PICs are major limitations for the utilization of PGR through high throughput techniques which are also cost prohibitive. Crop Improvement programs should instead focus on the identification, conservation, documentation and dissemination of information on unique landraces, community seed banks, introduction of new resistant genotypes, and sustaining and enhancing allelic diversity.

Impact of climate change on the dairy production in Fiji and the Pacific Island Countries and Territories: an insight for adaptation planning

“…Many livestock breed in the PICT remain uncharacterized. Thus, there is a great need for selection of genetically improved breed with adaptive mechanism against the effect of climate change toward improving productivity and efficiency [64]. Genetic selection of improved breed with heritability trails toward mitigating climate change effects as seen in the selection of Bos indicus cattle in Africa could be beneficial for the PICTs [64,65].…”

Cap. 30. Hawái y las Islas del Pacífico Afiliadas a los Estados Unidos. En: La Quinta Evaluación Nacional del Clima

“…Se proyecta que el cambio climático impacte los sistemas alimentarios insulares a través de una variedad de mecanismos diferentes (KM 11.1, 23.3) 77 . Se proyecta que temperaturas nocturnas más cálidas y la intrusión de agua salada, especialmente en los FSM y la RMI, incrementen los daños causados por enfermedades en cultivos básicos como el taro, las bananas y el árbol del pan 77,198 . También es probable que se vean afectados los cultivos comerciales: el aumento de las temperaturas y de los patógenos de las plantas disminuirá el rendimiento del café, el aumento de las inundaciones reducirá el rendimiento del azúcar y el aumento de los vientos dañará las palmas de coco, las bananas y el árbol del pan 191 .…”

“…La tolerancia a la sal de muchas plantas agrícolas clave todavía no se conoce bien (p. ej., Palanivel y Shah 2021 198 ), ni tampoco las interacciones entre el cambio climático y las plagas agrícolas invasoras. La información fiable sobre el consumo de pescado no está desagregada por demografía socioeconómica ni por tipo de pescado, lo que impide analizar la nutrición (y el riesgo de contaminantes) por grupos.…”