For generations, resilient and nourishing crops have thrived on Samoan plantations, deeply rooted in the Samoan way of life yet often overlooked by research and investment.
Recently, at the Nu’u Research Station in Apia, the Pacific Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (PACS) workshop brought a new energy: this time, farmers and communities would choose which of these unsung crops deserve their spotlight.
The two-day workshop concluded with the selection of four opportunity crops - breadfruit, yam, plantain and legumes.
For Leuluaipouomalo Sinaloa Melchior, a farmer and exporter from Sili Eco Farm in Savai’i, the choices made logical sense.
“It’s good that we finally have a selection of opportunity crops,” she said. “Those are the crops that can benefit a lot of Samoan people here. It’s good for our soil in Samoa. Not only that, but it also benefits the people, and so does the market here in Samoa, outside Samoa, and all around the world."
So, what makes a crop be considered an “opportunity crop”?
Ms Logotonu Meleisea Waqainabete, Genetic Resources Programme Leader at the Pacific Community (SPC), explained that the term describes crops whose contribution to food systems could be much greater if they received the right support.
“Many nutritious, climate-resilient and culturally important crops remain under-researched or under-invested. PACS calls these opportunity crops, because they could contribute so much more if supported by the right evidence, healthy soils, planting material systems, partnerships and investment.”
These are not new crops being introduced to Samoa. They are crops Samoan communities already know, grow and value. What has often been missing is the focused research, investment, market development and technical support needed to unlock their full potential.
Breadfruit and plantains were already among the highest-scoring crops when Pacific experts and farmers validated a regional list of 36 opportunity crops in Fiji last November. Samoa’s selection adds yams and legumes reflecting local priorities and what matters to Samoan farmers and communities.
Following opening remarks from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Assistant Chief Executive Officer for Crops, Leota Tanu Toomata, said participants worked in groups to consider the crops, with particularly underutilised varieties that meet the opportunity crop criteria for Samoa. Government agencies, farmer associations, exporters and civil society organisations brought different perspectives to the discussions, combining local knowledge with practical experience to rank the crops.
“The strength of PACS will not be measured by the plans we write, but by the partnerships we build and the actions we take together,” Leota told participants. “Today is the beginning of an important journey for Samoa.” -Leota Tanu Toomata
The approach puts local decision-making at the centre of the PACS process. Even though the discussions were guided by the regional list of selected opportunity crops, the workshop created space for Samoa to identify the crops that best reflect its own food and traditional farming systems, environmental and market priorities.
Faalua Letufuga of Nuanua o le Alofa, who advocates for the rights of people with disability in Samoa, highlighted that the greater barriers come earlier, such as clearing and preparing land, and the need for more training in plant propagation. She pointed to the family farm as Samoa's strength, where households work as a unit, and no one is left behind.
Australia is supporting PACS through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) by fully funding the pilot phase of the program as well as providing access to Australian scientific expertise. DFAT representative Ms Meg Somers highlighted the close relationship between food, culture, health, education and livelihoods in Samoa and the importance of healthy soils in sustaining them.
“Growing nutritious food starts with soil,” Ms Somers said.
She welcomed Samoa’s selection as a PACS pilot country, noting that it would allow locally important and resilient food crops to be identified and their potential tested alongside the health of the soils in which they grow.
Australia’s support also connects PACS with scientific expertise from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). These organisations will work with SPC and participating countries on the climate, soil and social inclusion behind the selected crops.