CSIRO's climate-resilient food systems portfolio

Assessing climate hazards for priority sectors

CSIRO has assessed climate hazards over recent and future decades, focusing on priority sectors including (but not limited to) water, health, agriculture, fisheries, coastal protection, and human and community development. The assessment informs integrated Climate Impact, Vulnerability and Risk Assessments (CIVRA) as part of National Adaptation Planning (NAP). (Funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) with Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) as the key audience).

Resilient blue and green foods under a changing climate

In Fiji, CSIRO is working alongside communities, researchers and government to understand threats to the food system under a changing climate and options for the future.

• Enhancing sustainable Pacific island agriculture through improved soil management and increased capability in delivering soil information and cost-effective soil information systems. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration across the Pacific region with Ministries of Agriculture, University of the South Pacific and Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research). Find out more

• Creating a digital interface that provides climate intelligence for Fiji’s sugarcane industry, including how rainfall patterns may change in warmer conditions during critical sowing and harvesting periods. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration with the Bureau of Meteorology, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture, Fiji National University and Sugar Research Institute of Fiji)

• Enhancing the management of antimicrobial resistance through developing a surveillance system that can identify AMR trends and hot spots, leading to informed intervention strategies. (Muli-stakeholder collaboration between Fijian and Samoan governments, University of Technology Sydney, University of South Australia, Fiji National University and Xing Diagnostics). Find out more
•  Assessing the feasibility of conservation agriculture to improve soil and food security under less favourable climatic conditions and co-designing pathways for adoption. (Collaboration with local partners in Fiji and Samoa, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). Find out more
• Supporting fisheries and agrifood representatives from government, research and communities to jointly understand the contribution of fisheries and coastal resources to the livelihoods of coastal communities, assess climate change risks and identify robust adaptation options that will support fisheries and communities under climate change. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration with Transcend Oceania and Ministry of Fisheries in Fiji; Horupe and World Fish in Timor Leste and contributions from First Nations people in Australia).  Find out more
• Training and support for a Pacific-wide network to enhance information sharing and access to diagnostic services for animal and zoonotic disease testing and diagnostics for early detection of high impact diseases. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, agriculture ministries, The Pacific Community and laboratories in New Caledonia and New Zealand). Find out more 

Enhancing the climate resilience of food systems in remote and resource constrained environments

CSIRO is helping increase access to, and the exchange of, contextually relevant knowledge on how Traditional and Local Knowledge can be blended with Western Scientific Knowledge across Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru and French Polynesia through nature-based solutions and agroforestry to respond to the impacts of climate change. Find out more

Enhancing the climate resilience of food systems in remote and resource constrained environments

In Kiribati, CSIRO is supporting and connecting projects and organisations to sustain a shared knowledge base for atoll food systems through:

• Helping to increase access to, and the exchange of, contextually relevant knowledge on how Traditional and Local Knowledge can be blended with Western Scientific Knowledge through nature-based solutions and agroforestry to respond to the impacts of climate change. Find out more
• Building the capacity of local communities to transform coastal food production systems through community-led solutions that respond to hotspots where climate change and post-COVID-19 food impacts are highest risk (Collaboration with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, led by the Cawthron Institute). Find out more
• Enhancing sustainable agriculture through improved soil management and increased capability in delivering soil information and cost-effective soil information systems. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration across the Pacific region with ministries of agriculture, University of the South Pacific and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research). Find out more

Enhancing the climate resilience of food systems in remote and resource constrained environments

In Nauru, CSIRO is working with partners to generate and combine knowledge on climate impacts and responses through:

• Helping increase access to, and the exchange of, contextually relevant knowledge on how Traditional and Local Knowledge can be blended with Western Scientific Knowledge through nature-based solutions and agroforestry to respond to the impacts of climate change. Find out more
• Assessing climate hazards over recent and future decades with a focus on priority sectors including (but not limited to) water, health, agriculture, fisheries, coastal protection, and human and community development. The assessments inform integrated Climate Impact, Vulnerability and Risk Assessments (CIVRA) as part of National Adaptation Planning (NAP). (Funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), with Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) being the key audience). Find out more

Food system resilience to shocks and disruptions

In collaboration with IFREMER and private sector in the region, CSIRO is helping to strengthen the resilience of value chains in New Caledonia to withstand current and emerging challenges—including climate change, biosecurity threats, and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Aquaculture, New Caledonia’s largest agrifood sector, remains heavily dependent on imported and unsustainable feed sources. Opportunities are being explored to develop locally sourced feed alternatives, and to share this knowledge with other Pacific communities, supporting growth of a sustainable blue economy across the region. 

Find out more

Food system resilience to climate and disease

In PNG, CSIRO is helping to strengthen food systems by building capacity with partners that will enhance food security, productivity and livelihoods.

• Supporting laboratory capacity building in both terrestrial and aquatic animal disease surveillance to improve animal agricultural systems and support trade and market access for agricultural commodities such as gulf prawns. (Collaboration with PNG’s National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority). Find out more
• Revitalising the Papua New Guinea Resource Information System (PNGRIS) to deliver improved soil and land data and greater data accessibility to improve integrated land use planning capability and support sustainable agriculture. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration with local partners and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) Find out more
• Enhancing capacity (knowledge, tools and competencies) for more resilient development decision-making and establishing a network of knowledge brokers and champions. (Collaboration with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). Find out more
• Supporting sustainable and responsible development in the Bismarck Sea to protect this globally-important region, while boosting livelihoods and food security. (Collaboration with PNG’s Conservation Environmental Protection Authority and The Nature Conservancy). Find out more

Supporting government and research to navigate the impacts of climate on food systems

In Samoa, CSIRO is working with multiple stakeholders to build capacity in developing climate resilient food systems.

• The Agri-food Systems and Climate Explorer is supporting policy makers with scenario planning and decision making towards more resilient food systems in Samoa. This user-friendly digital information platform integrates and maps out current and projected climate data with relevant agricultural and socio-economic indicators. The platform has been collaboratively designed with stakeholders across the Samoan government, universities, and industry in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC), Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and CSIRO. Agri-food Systems and Climate Explorer
• Sustainable agriculture is being enhanced through improved soil management and increased capability in delivering soil information and cost-effective soil information systems. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration across the Pacific with ministries of agriculture, University of the South Pacific and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research). Find out more
• Enhancing the management of antimicrobial resistance through developing a surveillance system that can identify AMR trends and hot spots, leading to informed intervention strategies. (Muli-stakeholder collaboration between Fijian and Samoan governments, University of Technology Sydney, University of South Australia, Fiji National University and Xing Diagnostics). Find out more
• Assessing the feasibility of conservation agriculture to improve soil and food security under less favourable climatic conditions and co-designing pathways for adoption. (Collaboration with local partners in Fiji and Samoa, funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). Find out more
  
   

Climate resilient and sustainable food systems to withstand market shocks

CSIRO has a portfolio of collaborations at multiple scales to strengthen the resilience of the Solomon Islands food system under a changing climate and post-conflict conditions. Projects in this portfolio are supporting the Solomon Islands to:

• Explore climate resilience strategies for agricultural crop production landscapes, coastal fisheries and food transport logistics to enhance nutrition security. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration with the Pacific Community, Solomon Island National University, University of Wollongong and the Government of Solomon Islands). Find out more
• Strengthen local small livestock and aquaculture input value chains through the application of novel knowledge and technology for nutritious locally sourced feed. (Collaboration with Solomon Islands National University). Find out more
• Enhance capacity (knowledge, tools and competencies) for more resilient development decision-making and establishing a network of knowledge brokers and champions. (Collaboration with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). Find out more 
• Assess the food environment and support national policies to promote healthier, more diverse diets. (Collaboration with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and University of Wollongong). Find out more
• Build the capacity of local communities to transform coastal food production systems through community-led solutions that respond to hotspots where climate change and post-COVID-19 food impacts are highest risk. (Collaboration with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and Cawthron Institute). Find out more

Climate resilient and productive food systems

In Tonga, CSIRO has been supporting partners to manage soil health and therefore increase food production.

• Enhancing sustainable agriculture through improved soil management and increased capability in delivering soil information and cost-effective soil information systems. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration across the Pacific region with ministries of agriculture, University of the South Pacific and Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research). Find out more
• Analysing soils following the 2022 eruption of the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai volcano and subsequent tsumami to determine the impact of ash and salinity on food production in Tonga and longer-term food security. (Collaboration with the Tongan Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). Find out more

Enhancing the climate resilience of food systems in remote and resource constrained environments

In Tuvalu, CSIRO is supporting and connecting projects and organisations to sustain a shared knowledge base for atoll food systems through:

• Helping to increase access to, and the exchange of, contextually relevant knowledge on how Traditional and Local Knowledge can be blended with Western Scientific Knowledge through nature-based solutions and agroforestry to respond to the impacts of climate change. Find out more
• Enhancing sustainable agriculture through improved soil management and increased capability in delivering soil information and cost-effective soil information systems. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration across the Pacific region with Ministries of Agriculture, CSIRO, University of the South Pacific and ACIAR). Find out more
• Assessing soil organic carbon content through soil surveys and modelling to improve agricultural production. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Tuvalu Department of Agriculture, Tuvalu Government Lands and Survey Department, The Pacific Community and Manaaki – Whenua Landcare Research New Zealand.)
• Assessing climate hazards over recent and future decades with a focus on priority sectors including (but not limited to) water, health, agriculture, fisheries, coastal protection, and human and community development. The assessments inform integrated Climate Impact, Vulnerability and Risk Assessments (CIVRA) as part of the development of National Adaptation Planning (NAP). (Funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), with Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) being the key audience). Find out more

Climate resilient food systems in disaster response and recovery

In Vanuatu, CSIRO is working with partners to strengthen capacity in responding to natural disasters and climate change through:

• Convening diverse actors across Vanuatu’s food system to co-develop a shared, evidence-based understanding of pathways toward climate resilience, while advancing practical actions—such as strengthening governance and planning arrangements—that help bridge the gap between disaster response and peacetime development. (Collaboration with the Vanuatu Government). Find out more

• Developing climate resilience strategies for agricultural crop production landscapes, coastal fisheries and food transport logistics to enhance nutrition security in Melanesia (Multi-stakeholder collaboration with (Multi-stakeholder collaboration with The Pacific Community and the Government of Vanuatu). Find out more
• Enhancing sustainable agriculture through improved soil management and increased capability in delivering soil information and cost-effective soil information systems. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration across the Pacific region with ministries of agriculture, University of the South Pacific and Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research). Find out more
• The Vanuatu Klaemet Infomesen blong Redy, Adapt mo Protekt (Van-KIRAP) Project has built local technical capacity in harnessing and managing climate data, developing and fostering the use of Climate Information Services (CIS) in five targeted sectors: tourism, agriculture, infrastructure, water and fisheries. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration with the Government of Vanuatu, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and Green Climate Fund). Find out more
• Training and support for a Pacific-wide network to enhance information sharing and access to diagnostic services for animal and zoonotic disease testing and diagnostics for early detection of high impact diseases. (Multi-stakeholder collaboration, with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, agriculture ministries, The Pacific Community and laboratories in New Caledonia and New Zealand). Find out more