The Brussels Development Briefing n.46 on the subject of “Agribusiness development in SIDs: the potential of tourism-related markets” took place on 21st September 2016 in Brussels at the ACP Secretariat (Avenue Georges Henri 451, 1200 Brussels). The Briefing was organised by the ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), in collaboration with the European Commission / DEVCO, CONCORD and the ACP Secretariat.

1. Agritourism Policy Stetting:
The case of Vanuatu
Howard Aru, Director General, Ministry of Agriculture,
Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries & Biosecurity, Vanuatu
Brussels Briefing, 21 September 2016
Agribusiness development in SIDS: the potential of tourism-related markets

2. Vote of
THANKS
SIDS
Agenda

3. Vote of
THANKS

4. Visit to Santo Agri-Tourism Project

5. Eye Opening Moments
• 1st
Pacific Agri-Tourism Forum in Fiji
(29 June – 3 July 2015);
• Exchanges with the Caribbean on
agritourism (Barbados/Jamaica);
(2 – 6 Nov 2015)
• Realization of benefits for Vanuatu.

6. Agriculture and
Tourism
Linkages in
Vanuatu – big
priority !
PRODUCTIVE
SECTOR DRIVE !
Strong Linkages

7. Agriculture provides
employment and income
for more households than
does any other sector.
80% of Vanuatu population
relies on agriculture and
the sector contributes to
28% of GDP.

8. Tourism has the potential
to stimulate demand in the
agricultural sector and use
of local products.
Cruise ship tourism is
growing in Vanuatu
(15%/year) and offers new
opportunities

9. Example – FANSA FARM

10. Example – FANSA FARM

11. • High import bill.
• Excessive processed food.
• 54% fresh produce - imported (veg, fruits).
• Meat and dairy : 79% of important bill.
• Consistency of supply of quality local
produce.
Current challenges

12. • High cost international travel, insufficient
maritime transport.
• High incidence of NCDs – one of the
highest in the world (70% of all deaths).
• Producers insufficiently organised and
need skills upgraded on ‘group marketing’,
quality and consistency of supply
Other challenges

13. Smart farming (ICT driven) which could assist
farmers in monitoring crops and improving
market access has insufficient uptake.
Other challenges

14. Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas
Agriculture
Tourism &Trade
Health
Infrastructure
Linkages

15. Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas
Roads for
Agriculture
and
Development

16. Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas

17. Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas
FIGHT AGAINST NCDS

18. Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas
FIGHT AGAINST NCDS

19. Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas
FIGHT AGAINST NCDS

20. Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas
FIGHT AGAINST NCDS

21. Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas
• Govt. incentives to promote local food:
o Council of Ministers (COM) Decision on food
and Government-hosted functions, and
gradually – in restaurants.
• Data Gaps (crops, volumes, prices, chain
actors to be addressed).

22. Policy setting > Agritourism – Key Areas
• Govt. incentives to promote local food:
o Council of Ministers (COM) Decision on food
and Government-hosted functions, and
gradually – in restaurants.
• Data Gaps (crops, volumes, prices, chain
actors to be addressed).

23. Policy setting in agritourism : key areas
•Providing information on nutrition and health
characteristics of fresh and processed food (healthy
food) and education programmes are being
developed,
•Increase private-public collaboration to bring
together the agriculture and tourism industries and
PPPs to target processing facilities,
•Trainings in food safety and certification
•Work with chefs to increase local sourcing and
promote local cuisine

24. Actions already taken :
Agri-
Tourism
Steering
Committee
23 Dec 2015

25. Actions already taken:
Agri-Tourism Policy Setting Workshop, May 2015, Port Vila

26. Actions already taken :
• NZ Aid-funded Agri-tourism Strategy
(following CTA’s funding of Agri-tourism Policy setting
workshop and awareness since 2015 !)

27. Actions already taken :
• Annual Agri-Tourism Week
- First event to be launched in Nov 2016.

28. Actions already taken :
E-
Agriculture
strategy
(CTA funding)

29. Actions already taken :
ICT and Agriculture / Fisheries

30. Actions already taken :
Chef
Mann

31. Actions already taken :
Selling the
concept of
Agri-Tourism

32. Actions already taken :
Rebuilding of Sea-Front

33. Actions already taken :
SANDALWOOD CITY
OF THE PACIFIC

34. • The Government is rebuilding and upgrading the
Port-Vila seafront
• Vanuatu Association of Chefs trains young chefs
in use and promotion of local products and local
cuisine
• Branding efforts, promotion of quality food and
product differentiation are being developed
• Agritourism tours offered to tourists with food
experiences

35. Next steps: Upscaling and expanding
•Agritourism centre being developed (private-
sector led) with quality Vanuatu products and
iconic industries (“must have” products tourists
have to bring home): Tanna coffee, chocolate, oils,
organic beef jerky, kava, honey…
•Expanding agritourism tours combining local food
and value added products. Development of
agritourism product cluster and tours (Lapita,
ACTIV, coffee and cacao plantations…)

36. • Business to business agritourism trade
shows combining culinary
events/trainings.
• Establishing pilot project for hydroponics
on Santo.
• Food Mamas product enhancement - Port
Vila Market. Improving facilities for food
vendors (training in food safety,
signage…)

37. Conclusion
•Agritourism has the potential to build resilience
through multisectoral work and to create
employment opportunities across the value chain
•Public-Private Partnerships are key to upscale
and expand
•Very good projects to be considered within the EU
and ACP cooperation for support under the private
sector development

38. THANK YOU