9. Agriculture Under a Changing Climate

Agriculture is a very important sector in Pacific Island Countries (PICs), providing a significant source of food and income for households as well as substantially contributing to national economies. Agriculture is climatically sensitive, and climate change poses major threats to the continued productivity of this critically important sector in the future. This chapter highlights the current status of agriculture in PICs, and the pathways through which climate change is already, and will continue to, impact the sector. It then presents a range of case studies that illustrate systems-oriented approaches that recognize the foundational importance of healthy soils for building agricultural resilience under a changing climate. Finally, the chapter discusses key directions for building the resilience of the agriculture sector going forward. The key priorities of agricultural plans in relation to climate change are analyzed, and key opportunities for effectively realizing these priorities are discussed. Opportunities for increasing the resilience of the agriculture sector include using integrated vulnerability and risk assessment tools, focusing on applied research and emphasizing the accessibility of research products, establishing standardized and routine monitoring and evaluation guidelines, and seeking alignment between national, regional, and international mechanisms and agreements for increasing the resilience of agriculture. Transformational adaptation of agriculture in a changing climate is critical for the livelihoods and overall resilience of Pacific Island people.