Imagining island food system futures with Indigenous foods: A tok stori on the experiences and potential of traditional food systems in provinces of Solomon Islands

Abstract

Transition to unhealthy food choices and lifestyles is causing health problems for Solomon Islanders. Due to these circumstances, a tok stori was organized in 2023 to start addressing the following question: “what does a vision for a healthy and safe food system comprise?” (Tutuo et al. 2023). To follow up on these discussions, WorldFish and the Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) organized a second series of forums called Island Food Systems in Transition: Strengthening Indigenous Food Systems in Solomon Islands. The forums were hosted in Gizo, Western Province, on June 13, 2024, and in Buala, Isabel Province, on August 14, 2024 . These forums brought together rural actors and key stakeholders (i) to talk about traditional farming and aquatic foods under a nutrition-sensitive approach and (ii) to listen to ideas about what the future of food systems in Solomon Islands could look like at the provincial level.