2024 Fiji Study Tour to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast, Queensland, hosted a delegation of representatives from the Fiji Landcare project in September 2024, continuing the series of international cross border learning as part of the tripartite ACIAR Project between Fiji, the Philippines and Australia. The study tour, which included representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, Fiji National University and farmers, including Farmer Group Tei Tei Taveuni, built on previous exchanges between Philippines to Fiji, and Fiji to the Philippines, and was aimed at fostering knowledge exchange and strengthening partnerships in sustainable land management. The Sunshine Coast was chosen for this additional study tour due to the shared similarities to Fiji, including a subtropical climate, soil types, comparative agricultural crops and the impacts of climate change on farming communities near coastal developments. Over the course of five days, the 18 delegates engaged in site visits, discussions, and hands-on learning that emphasised sustainable land management practices and community resilience. The importance of peopled-centred approaches in land management emerged as a key theme throughout the tour, including during the first site with a visit to the Caloundra Community Centre. At the Community Centre, Dr. Tina Lathouras from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) and Tomas Passegi, the Centre Manager, facilitated discussions on social sustainability and community resilience. The Fijian delegation engaged in this discussion, sharing reflections on their strong kinship systems and emerging challenges including ageing farmers, urban migration, and the impacts of overseas labour schemes. The tour also included visits to several agritourism and commercial farms, as well as research centres. During these site visits, delegates explored crop diversification, agroforestry, and sustainable farming practices, with Australian farmers sharing experiences of managing market challenges and extreme weather events. A visit to the Noosa and District Landcare association was a particular highlight, showcasing community-driven efforts in land restoration and ecological conservation. The shared impacts of climate change were explored during a tour of the Blue Heart Carbon Project. The coastal floodplain management project balanced diverse land uses of agriculture and conservation and exploration of alternative income sources, whilst preparing for the impacts of sea level rise and population displacement – a topic resonating deeply with the Fijian delegation. Agri-tourism and value addition were other prominent features within the tour agenda, and included visits to the Buderim Ginger Factory and Nutworks. These enterprises shared how they integrate sustainability into production while creating engaging tourism experiences, offering potential models for Fiji’s growing agri-tourism sector. The study tour was culminated by a memorable dinner featuring stories from local Kabi Kabi elder Uncle Udgeee Tais and a thought provoking talk from former Fiji Tourism CEO and current Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel. A big thank-you to project partner Global Landcare who facilitated the study tour in partnership with Queensland Water and Land Carers, and in particular local Sunshine Coast resident Mark Dwyer for coordinating the on-ground logistics.