The Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity (MALFFB), Mr Timothy Tumukon and the Executive Director for Regenerative Vanua, Mr Jerry Spooner ,signed a Memorandum of Agreement on the 3rd of November 2024, which officially formalises the required partnership enabled through a Council of Ministers decision for the purpose of ensuring the head administration of Regenerative Vanua as the Secretariat of the Global Agritourism Network Pacific Region is properly established and supported in Vanuatu.
The MALFFB as the lead ministry will provide annual funding support in order for Regenerative Vanua to manage its affairs and functions including the development of Vanuatu’s Agritourism Policy, governance framework and strategy and ensure a sustainable funding mechanism to implement Regenerative Vanua’s key programs, activities and events.
DG Tumukon stated “the Vanuatu Government sees this partnership as a great opportunity to continue on the with the correct approach for Agritourism driven by Regenerative Vanua which is addressing several issues related to land and food sovereignty and nutrition security for our Vanua’s. We have witnessed in June earlier this year from all the participants that attended the Global Regenerative Agritourism Symposium the transformative power of our Vanua’s that they hold through their Indigenous knowledge and food systems and how this can provide a healing journey for our visitors. That is our draw card and that’s what we want to protect and revive through those experiences”.
The Executive Director for Regenerative Vanua stated “Regenerative Vanua’s Stewardship Framework is about maintaining and restoring our traditional Indigenous knowledge systems which in turn regenerates our culture, our land, water and oceans and builds the pride of people in the Pacific. By revitalising traditional farming practices and linking farming to hospitality, Regenerative Vanua is building Regenerative Agritourism and Gastronomy to help build the capability, pride and resilience needed at the Vanua level to thrive through uncertain and challenging times. Regenerative Vanua’s programs and standards have been developed to adopt an approach where tourism is not the primary focus but rather as a vehicle for building resilience of our Vanua’s. The Regenerative Vanua Stewardship Agreements (RVSA), Regenerative Agritourism Pathway Recognition Program (RAPRP), Regenerative Vanua Traveller Recognition Program (RVTRP) and Regenerative Vanua Journeys, Symposiums and Experiential Exchange Program have been designed to prioritize community resilience over tourism”.
Through the partnership Regenerative Vanua supported by the Vanuatu Government will manage the Pacific Region Administration of the Global Agritourism Network (GAN); Organize national and regional required workshops, meetings, and conferences; Host Regional Annual Symposiums for Regenerative Vanua; Submit to bid for the 2027 World Agritourism Congress; Nominate for the Gastronomy 2027 Regional Recognition; Implement criteria for agritourism licenses; Launch the Regenerative Agritourism Pathway Recognition Program; Roll out the Regenerative Agritourism Exchange Program; Implement regenerative agritourism standards, including product; development, training, and infrastructure programs; and review agritourism policy, governance, funding, and research.
This ongoing support from the Government will support Vanuatu to be the Regenerative Agritourism hub for the Pacific attracting agritourism events, training and workshops in Vanuatu.
For more information, contact Alain Simeon at the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock Forestry Fisheries & Biosecurity on email