ABSTRACT
In recent years, throughout the Pacific Islands there has been an alarming shift towards consumption of low quality imported processed foods accompanied by a neglect of traditional food systems. This has led to serious health problems, food security risk and losses of agricultural biodiversity, traditional knowledge, customs and culture. Global and regional problems of climate change, population pressure, food and fuel price increases and unstable economic conditions exacerbate the Pacific's problems related to food imports and highlight the need to protect traditional food systems and agricultural biodiversity (Pacific Food Summit, 2010; Hezel, 2010; Coyne, 2000).
