Vinaka vaka levu - Land Use, Climate Change and Coconuts in Fiji

Today’s sustainable practices in the coconut industry in Fiji are combating climate change and improving sustainability.

‘Vinaka vaka levu’, means ‘thank you very much’ in native Fijian, and goes to the heart of Fijian cultural values, to be grateful for what others contribute and to be conscious of how you contribute to others. Few economic sub-sectors in Fiji emphasis this meaning more than the story of the coconut industry and related downstream enterprises in Fiji. It is a story of embedded sustainability and a showcase of how today’s practices are combating climate change through productive land use and environmentally and socially friendly processes.

In August 2019, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published a report on “Climate Change and Land”, which estimated that up to 23% of global net GHG emissions come from Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU), and up to 37% if pre- and post-production activities in the global food system are included.[1] The same report also indicates, that improved productivity in land use for food production through sustainable intensification can have a significant impact on avoiding GHG emissions.[2] These conclusions lead to the heart of the coconut industry and related downstream enterprises in Fiji.

Increasing the productivity of land used for food production can deliver significant mitigation by avoiding emissions... [2]

Coconuts are a traditional food staple in Fiji, and coconut leaves and trees are used for everything from traditional woven mats to building materials. This includes the unquantified value in the informal economy, especially in rural coastal areas of a country which has a bit over 100 inhabited islands. In the formal economy, this starts with the growing of coconuts which are a part of 3% of Fiji’s agricultural production, amounting to USD 8m in 2015. [1]  Then continues with the additional economic value created through downstream production of foodstuffs and cosmetics by national businesses and exporters.

Fiji has a long history of coconut production via plantations, and a new sustainable chapter in that journey is a government program for replanting coconut trees, via a process of replacing older and less productive coconut trees with ones that are two times more productive. In the first year 30,000 seedlings are to be distributed, and farmers will receive a subsidy for every successful planting. Noting that 10,000 farmers are estimated to depend on coconut production in Fiji, where there is approximately 65,000 ha of land with planted palm trees.[4] Most of these seedlings will come from the Mua Research Center on Taveuni island, which is a leading Pacific research center for high yield and resilient species of coconut trees, in addition to being a national source for seeds (and an area for dual land use livestock grazing). The Mua Research Center encompasses the essence of what the IPCC report it trying to encourage.

Downstream, Fiji has a number of companies making coconut-based products which showcase sustainability and highlighted in their culture.  Pure Fiji is a larger brand providing numerous cosmetic products based on coconut, including other natural ingredients found in Fiji. Pure Fiji works to ensure the environmental integrity (and low carbon footprint) of their products, but also actively addresses local communities through sourcing and social engagement activities.[5]  More direct sustainable impact is showcased in the coconut oil produced by Bula Batiki which is sourced directly from the small Batiki island, and where the proceeds go to the cooperative of villagers on the island.[6]

'Vinaka vaka levu' to Fijians for addressing climate change, encouraging sustainable land use, and working towards a more environmentally friendly, socially inclusive, and transparent consumer products

It is recognized that the above examples do not represent the totality of the coconut industry and related downstream enterprises in Fiji. However, ‘Vinaka vaka levu’ to Fijians for addressing climate change, encouraging sustainable land use, and working towards a more environmentally friendly, socially inclusive, and transparent consumer products.  

Sources:

[1] IPCC, 2019, “Summary for Policymakers: IPCC Special Report on Climate Change, Desertification, Land Degradation, Sustainable Land Management, Food Security, and Greenhouse gas fluxes in Terrestrial Ecosystems”, pg. 7.

[2] IPCC, 2019, “Chapter 6 - IPCC Special Report on Climate Change, Desertification, Land Degradation, Sustainable Land Management, Food Security, and Greenhouse gas fluxes in Terrestrial Ecosystems: Summary for Policymakers”, pg. 6-51.

[3] FBOS, 2018, “Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Industries 2015”, pg. 4 to 5.

[4] Fiji Sun, 2018 “Programme to Develop Coconut Industry Launched”, 12 Aug 2018.

[5] Pure Fiji, 2019, Making a Difference, https://www.purefiji.com/making-a-difference/.

[6] Bula Batiki, 2019, Our Story, https://www.bulabatiki.co.uk/our-story/.