Strengthening Food Systems Governance to Achieve Multiple Objectives: A Comparative Instrumentation Analysis of Food Systems Policies in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands

Erica Reeve, Amerita Ravuvu, Anna Farmery, Senoveva Mauli, Dorah Wilson, Ellen Johnson and Anne-Marie Thow
Additional contact information
Erica Reeve: Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Amerita Ravuvu: Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Prevention and Control Programme, Public Health Division, Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji
Anna Farmery: Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
Senoveva Mauli: Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
Dorah Wilson: Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia
Ellen Johnson: Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Anne-Marie Thow: Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-23

Abstract: Political leaders from around the world are demonstrating interest in adopting food policies that account for the economic, health, social and environmental dimensions of food. In the Pacific Islands, decades of experience in implementing multisectoral NCD and climate policy has indicated that operationalising food systems policies will be challenging. We aimed to identify opportunities for food systems sectors to more strongly promote nutrition and environmental sustainability in addition to economic objectives. We conducted a comparative documentary analysis of 37 food systems sector policies in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. We applied theories of agenda- setting to examine how the frames employed by different sectors, and evident in policy content, shaped policy priorities and activities. We identified a predominately economic framing of issues affecting food systems sectors. Though there were clear policy aims to produce enough food to meet population dietary requirements and to promote an environmentally resilient food supply, aims operationalised more predominately through policy content were those that increase the contribution of productive sectors to food exports and import substitution. Food systems sectors in the Pacific Islands have clear aims to promote nutritious and environmentally resilient food systems, but policy instruments could more strongly reflect these aims.

Keywords: food systems policy; policy coherence; healthy and sustainable food; Pacific Islands; policy instruments (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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