Papua is willing to take the leading role in strengthening food security across the Pacific as the region faces growing threats from climate change, rising sea levels, cyclones and potential future crises.

The proposal was raised by Melanesian Youth Diplomacy Forum Chairman Steve Rick Elson Mara during a talanoa session hosted by the Fiji Indonesia Friendship Association (FIFA) in Suva today.

Mara says food resilience is not just about individual countries, but a regional effort, with Papua potentially providing food storage and creating opportunities for Pacific countries to exchange resources.

“The basic idea is not only about business or Papua selling food to Fiji. It is about having food storage so that one day, if there is a war or another major crisis, Melanesian countries do not have to depend on countries outside the region for food.”

Mara says climate change effects such as cyclones and rising sea levels already create serious challenges for Pacific communities including livelihoods and land.

“Food security, or food resilience, is very important, especially for us in Melanesia, because we face many challenges, including climate change. Papua can become part of the answer.”

Mara says Papua could exchange resources with Fiji, Vanuatu and other Pacific countries, such as supplying rice while receiving fish and other products from them.

He says stronger cooperation could also involve the Melanesian Spearhead Group and Papua’s provincial leadership.

Fiji Indonesia Friendship Association President Tuivawilati says food security has become increasingly important as changing times, rising food prices and the cost of living put pressure on communities.

“Government does not have all the answers, so we need to continue sharing ideas and exploring different approaches.”

USP postgraduate student in Diplomacy and International Relations, Sainiana Komairasia, says the discussion also highlighted the need to better understand the impacts of climate change down to the grassroots level.

“This discussion further showed me how the impacts of climate change are affecting not only people’s day-to-day lives, but also the sustainability of communities into the future.”

The talanoa, held at the Peninsula Hotel’s Baka Room in Suva, brought together farmers, students, and employees to discuss how Fiji, Indonesia and the wider Pacific can learn from one another on food, communities and resilience.

The Fiji Indonesia Friendship Association was established in 2024 to strengthen people-to-people relations between Fiji and Indonesia alongside existing government-to-government ties.