This Global Food Summit is timely, as we strive to achieve the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development. The COVID-19 and climate change
parallel challenges, call for game-changing systemic solutions. Border
restrictions and disruptions in food supply chains further emphasize the
importance of sustainable food systems. The challenge for us in the Pacific
is to put in place resilient food systems and to recognize the critical
importance of integrating what the land produces and the bounty provided
by our ocean.

Food remains an integral part of the Samoan culture with ties to our land
and ocean. Increased dependence on imported processed foods, fueled by
changing dietary habits; vulnerability to climate change, rising burden of

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), and inherent limitations of a small
island economy, pose challenges in ensuring sustainable food systems that
can cater for Samoa’s growing population. A sustainable ocean platform
recognizes that everyone has a part to play in food security and nutritious
food for all.

Excellencies,
With the support from the United Nations, we completed our Samoa
Food Systems Pathway 2030, as an outcome from our national food system
dialogues. This paves the way to transform our food systems for a resilient
and healthy Samoa.
Five key systemic solutions to transform our national food systems
and also help achieve the 2030 Agenda include:
● Transforming our food production sector and strengthening an
enabling environment to be able to deliver sufficient quantities of
affordable, quality and safe food for improved nutritional wellbeing.
● Review and tailor food policies to encourage change in consumer
behaviour and dietary attitudes and ensure outreach to marginalized
groups, in the informal agriculture sector. These are essential to
support a shift towards a healthy and nutritional balanced eating
lifestyle and food culture.
● Revitalise and promote the use of traditional and indigenous
knowledge in sustainable agricultural practices.
● Facilitate effective engagement of vulnerable groups including
women and youth in food system discussions and food value chains,
to ensure equitable livelihoods in the food sector. This will

encourage an informed role of communities and culture in the
development of our food systems.
● Implement effective social protection measures to provide
contingent responses and safety nets to cushion the impacts of
shocks on food supply and consumption.

For our transformation to be successful, it requires collective commitment,
investment and adequate resourcing. Strong leadership and partnerships
as well as good stakeholder collaboration are vital to the effective
implementation of our pathway initiatives.

Excellencies,
It has been an honour and privilege for Samoa to be part of the Food
Systems Summit process over the last 18 months. The solutions
highlighted throughout this summit will drive transformative actions, and
contribute to the UN Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable
Development Goals by 2030.

Thank you for your attention and God bless.