ACIAR PIC more Veg

Funder: Australian Centre for International Research (ACIAR)

Duration: 7 April 2023 – 19 March 2025

Project location: Fiji

Project partners: Dikoda (Dikoda.com), Consumer Council of Fiji (CCOF) (consumersfiji.org)

Project manager: Ee Von Goh

Background

Pacific Island Countries (PIC) have among the world’s worst food insecurity and malnutrition statistics. This is driven by fast-changing food environments, shaping how communities can eat. There is a need to better understand these food environments in diverse Pacific settings, to understand how to build on traditional diets and head off the worst of the nutrition transition.

Objectives

This 2-year scoping research study aims to delve into the key constraints and opportunities within Fiji’s food environments, across urban and rural areas and remote island contexts, to promote healthier and vegetable-rich diets. By bridging the information gap in national food, nutrition, and agriculture policies – and by engaging from the start with communities and policymakers – PIC More Veg will pave the way for evidence-based intervention strategies.

Expected results

Through empirical research, data collection, analysis and feedback, the project will:

• contribute valuable insights to identify gaps for food system policies and interventions
• engage with policy audiences and citizens through Citizen Food Forums
• set up intervention entry points from the ground up
• better understand the range of Fijian food environments, and be ready to design context-specific interventions to enhance the ability of Fijians to ‘PIC more veg’!