The University of the South Pacific (USP) hosted the first scientific meeting of the Family Farming, Lifestyle and Health (FALAH) project, from June 28th to June 30th, at USP Laucala campus in Suva, Fiji.
The FALAH Project falls under the European Commission Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions and Research and Innovation Staff Exchange – RISE and 1.3 million euros was awarded to the consortium members of the project. The University of New Caledonia (UNC) leads the FALAH project, which brings together 14 institutions from the Pacific region and Europe.
The FALAH workshop started with the Opening Ceremony, hosted at the AUSAID theatre. H.E François-Xavier Léger, French Ambassador, Dr Erja Askola, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation for the Pacific, and Mr Vinesh Kumar, Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Fijian Government, and Pr Jean-Marie Fotsing from UNC Caledonia and leader of the FALAH project, were invited to the Opening Ceremony. After a traditional ceremony performed by the Itaukei Students Association, they were welcomed by Professor Jito Vanualailai, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Education of USP. Professor Catherine Ris, President of the UNC, delivered virtually the opening remarks to all the participants.
The Opening Ceremony ended with the vote of thanks presented by the President of the USP Students Association, Salote Nasalo.
For two days, the participants of the FALAH project presented their scientific works related to food security, health, agriculture and climate change and engaged on fruitful discussions. Researchers from USP, UNC, Solomon Islands National University, National University of Vanuatu, Divine Word University, the Pacific Community (SPC), the Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien and Western Sydney University exchanged practices, research tools and preliminary results of their work.
The last day, participants had the chance to visit Molituva and Buretu villages, to meet the communities and learn from their knowledge on family farming.
The workshop ended with a closing dinner, during which the Samoa Dance Association performed for all the guests.
This first scientific FALAH workshop was an opportunity for the PIURN Members Universities involved in the FALAH Project to come together and share knowledge on the different topics discussed. They also engaged with other partners from the Pacific to strengthen the research collaboration.
14 institutions are part of the FALAH Project
- Local: University of New Caledonia, Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien (IAC), Research Institute for the Development (IRD)
- Pacific partners: PIURN Members Universities: The University of the South Pacific (USP), National University of Vanuatu (UNV), Solomon Islands National University (SINU); the Pacific Community (SPC), Vanuatu Agricultural Research and Technical Center (VARTC)
- International: France: National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Toulouse – Jean Jaures University (UT2J); Germany: Kula; Australia: The University of Sydney (USYD), the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the University of Western Sydney (WSU) and the University of Wollongong (UOW)
More information on: https://falah.unc.nc/en/home
