The Pacific School Food Declaration sets out a shared vision for healthier, more sustainable and culturally grounded school food systems across the Pacific.
The Declaration emerged from the inaugural Pacific School Food Talanoa, held in Nadi, Fiji, from 2-4 June 2026. The Talanoa brought together more than 100 participants from 16 countries, including representatives from governments, schools and communities, civil society, academia and development organisations, to share experiences, learn from Pacific-led solutions and identify priorities for collective action.
UniSC and the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research played a key role in bringing the Talanoa together, working alongside regional partners. Associate Professor Sarah Burkhart, an ACPIR researcher and co-founder and Chair of the Pacific School Food Network, helped lead the initiative, with UniSC researchers and students also contributing research and facilitating workshops.
Developed collaboratively through the Talanoa, the Declaration recognises that school food is about much more than nutrition. What children eat at school connects health and learning with local food production, culture, livelihoods, food sovereignty and climate resilience.
The Declaration provides a shared platform for action and continued collaboration across the region—from strengthening healthy and culturally appropriate school food initiatives and local procurement to supporting food education, youth participation and sharing Pacific knowledge and evidence.
More information
