Pacific research showcased at global conference
Agricultural researchers from around the world met for TropAg 2022, where PASS-CR participants presented new research from the Pacific.
With more than 1000 delegates from 50 countries, the conference was fantastic opportunity to create new connections, and discuss challenges, opportunities, and the future of international agriculture.
Delegates from the Pacific included ACIAR Meryl Williams Fellows, John Allright Fellows and PASS-CR participants - pictured above with staff from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Shivani Singh, a Masters scholar at Fiji National University, was among the speakers for the symposium One Health from a Livestock View about healthy food and agriculture for healthy communities.
Shivani is involved in the ACIAR initiative Enhancing the management of antimicrobial resistance in Fiji, and working in collaboration with Public Health to establish the first Antimicrobial Resistance surveillance system program for livestock in Fiji, .
In the symposium, Shivani spoke alongside researchers from Kenya and Australia, and presented on the knowledge of antibiotic use & resistance among poultry farmers in Fiji.
The conference featured an impressive exhibition of nearly 300 posters submitted by higher degree researchers from around the world.
Together, the posters depicted the latest rural research and development, and the future of food science and farming.
Among them were posters from PASS-CR scholars, showcasing the latest in Pacific agricultural research.
PhD scholar Luisa Wara featured in the exhibition with a poster, titled Comparing the domestic market of virgin coconut oil in Rabi and Cicia.
Luisa is pictured here with supervisor Dr Salesh Kumar from Fiji National University, who is also the PASS-CR in-country engagement coordinator in Fiji.
ACIAR Future Thinker Awardee Leikitah Naituku from The University of the South Pacific presented her PhD research on broad mites and other pests affecting capsicum farming in Fiji.
Shirlyn Lata from the University of the South Pacific, presented her Master's research on Investigating variation in the 'Tree of Life' – Cocos nucifera.
Tigris Havea from Tonga featured in the exhibition with a poster titled Partial replacement of maize with cassava root-moringa leaf and vegetable oil blends for finisher broilers.
Special thanks to Josevata Cava, ACIAR Scholarships Coordinator at the University of the South Pacific, for helping to organise the display.
At the end of the conference, PASS-CR staff, scholars & supervisors took the chance for meet and celebrate Mereseini Naivola and Aradhana Deesh graduating from the Meryl Williams Fellowship.
For more information about TropAg 2022, visit: https://tropagconference.org.
