The main goal of the European Union-funded Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade (IACT) project is to strengthen the export capacity of Pacific member countries in the primary industries of agriculture, forestry, aquaculture and livestock. The project employs a whole-of-supply chain approach, assisting commercial ventures and producer groups to become export-oriented, market-driven enterprises that will consistently supply overseas markets with competitive agriculture, forestry and aquaculture products. The project is implemented by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Suva, Fiji and started in June 2011.
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Amruqa is an agricultural production, processing and export company specializing in spices and essential oils, and based in Rabaul, East New Britain, PNG.
The Company was registered as Follywell No.6 Ltd and was established in 1997, initially trading as "Pacific Spices".
Since 2010, the company started trading as "AMRUQA", expanding its operation and technical know-how through innovative ideas to meet market demand for quality value-added products.
Currently, the company exports its retail coconut oil and essential oils through CocoLicious (distributor) for the Australian and China markets, and also coconut oil through RoMack Industries into the New Zealand market.
Apia Bottling has for many years produced and marketed its own brand, specialising in food and beverage products.
It is a value-added product lately developed and is now being exported to New Zealand under 4pi Marketing Communications as "Hot Samoan Boys Chilli Sauce", and currently sold in 13 retail outlets such as cafes, new world supermarkets, farmers markets and niche boutique food outlets.
Atoll Beauties is an aquaculture & mariculture production, processing and export company specializing in giant clam farming in Tarawa, Kiribati.
The company has been in operation for the last 12 years and is directly involved with the community as it works with two villages on Abaiang Island. They also work with the Kiribati Fisheries division to establish clam farming in other outer island communities.
Bula Island Food Supplies Ltd (BIFS) has been involved in processing and exporting root crops and vegetables to Australia.
BIFS started operating from a factory in Namaka, Nadi with 42 temporary and permanent staff with an annual export volume of 457 tonnes.
In response to an increasing demand for Fijian products, BIFS constructed a bigger and modern export processing plant with a storage capacity of up to 80 tonnes.
Bougainville Seaweed Ltd (BSL) is a government subsidiary company under the Autonomous Region of Bougainville that processes and exports dried seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii. The enterprise engages with groups of farmers to produce farmed seaweed around Bougainville, with the majority of production coming from the Carteret Islands. The enterprise has been assisted by the National Fisheries Authority with its export license, and with the sourcing of farming materials such as ropes and hydraulic presses for compression of seaweed.
Seaweed farming has created employment and income for many island communities with more than 300 families engaged from the Carteret Islands in 2013. The high interest amongst coastal communities is now driving increased seaweed production. SPC EU-IACT and NFA have linked BSL to a buyer in China and the company has been exporting seaweed to this supplier since 2013. SPC EU-IACT and NFA have also provided training to more than 69 farmers, DPI, BSL and NFA staff on seaweed farming and processing.
There are now 4,552 farmers in 2015 are now planting seaweed for supply to Bougainville Seaweed Ltd (BSL), in comparison to 800 in 2014. The new production areas have been established across the Nissan, Selau, Atoll, Tinputz and Buka Districts. This remarkable increase in the number of farmers is attributable to post-training scale-up and expansion efforts being coordinated by BSL, District Officers of Autonomous Region of Bougainville, PNG National Fisheries Authority, and SPC.
Centru Bambu is a government-owned enterprise involved in the manufacture of high quality bamboo furniture in Timor Leste.
There are more than 800 farmers and families involved in the planting, harvesting and supplying of bamboos as raw materials to the factory.
Current production levels is sufficient enough for local demand; however the EU- IACT project aims at assisting the enterprise to grow out into exports through the purchase of machinery and equipment to increase throughput and output capacity of the factory
Direct Management Ltd is based in Honiara, Solomon Islands, and buys and exports cocoa to Singapore and Malaysia. DML has taken a lead role in revitalising the Solomon Islands cocoa industry and with support from partner company Holland Commodities, has distributed over 240,000 cocoa seedlings to cocoa smallholders on Guadalcanal.
Emirau Marine Products Limited (EMP) was incorporated in July 1998 and has traded mainly in the buying and treating of marine products for export through NCS LIHIR and RUMION, both in PNG.
The company later ventured into buying copra from local farmers and suppliers for export. Recently, EMP has explored the potential for downstream processing of coconut into processed products including trials into the use of coconut oil as an alternative to diesel fuel.
Following the success of these tests, EMP pursued the development of a "Zero waste coconut processing plant" designed to cater for both wet and dry processing of coconuts to avail crude coconut oil (CCO) which is later refined into edible coconut oil (ECO) and straight vegetable oil fuel (SVOF), with a number of by-products such as twine, animal feed and soap, producing a net result of zero waste.
The facility allows the company to produce quality edible virgin coconut oil (VCO) and straight vegetable oil fuel (SVOF) as its core products.
Fijika Natural Products is an award winning business that specialises in the production of virgin coconut oil.
Fijika is located in Labasa, Fiji, and established for almost 7 years, it received generic assistance through the EU-FACT funds for VCO lab analysis tests which enabled the company to produce and export VCO through Pure Fiji and Frenzo Beverages Limited.
Fijika Natural Products shares a special bond with communities and encourages environmentally friendly practises that will help sustain coconut trees for both, now and the future.
Through its partnership with FMP Marketing of Australia for the last 16 years, the company has managed to supply mature coconuts to Woolworth and Coles Supermarkets throughout Australia.
The company has sought assistance from EU-IACT to help diversify its export products to include "value-added" products such as coconut water, coconut oil, noni juice, frozen coconut shredded and cocopeat.
Due to the aftermath of Cyclone Evan in December 2012 the company was forced to relook at its business model, as the Samoan coconut industry had suffered a major setback in terms of shortage of coconuts.
Their own plantation was established in Vava'u in 2002, the first harvest in 2005 was 45kg, and by 2011 the total exported had reached 2.9 tonnes as they built relationships with other growers in Tonga.
With increased market demand, the company now looks to source increased vanilla from other growers in Tonga.
Vanilla is exported to New Zealand where a range of value added products are produced and marketed to retail, food service industry and food manufacturers in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, USA, Japan, Denmark and Brazil.
In 2011 Indigo Seafood established a joint venture with Palau Aquaculture Coorperative Association (PACA), an NGO based in Palau, to produce farmed giant clams for export to Asia and United States of America.
PACA supports up to 90 farmers who culture giant clams and export live for the marine ornamental trade.
The enterprise has received EU-IACT support for diversifying into the production of native humpback grouper for live exports to Asia.
Industry Timoli is a family-owned business that has been producing VCO and soap products for the past 4 years. They specialise in the production, packaging, marketing and distribution in retail/bulk of virgin coconut oil in Timor-Leste.
The enterprise works with 10 remote community clusters that have been established to supply raw coconuts to Industry Timoli for the production of coconut oil for local consumption.
Besides this, they also employ 6 local staff demonstrating their commitment to supporting the local economy.
The enterprise supports income generation for producers in communities by purchasing their coconuts and providing continued support.
Jones Trading Ltd is newly established company, operating for almost 2 years now and produces virgin coconut oil for export.
The Company purchases coconuts from farmers in Vava'u and is currently building a VCO factory with the capacity to produce 4000 litres of VCO per month for export into Australia.
Kaiming Agro Processing is a locally-owned ginger exporter. Located in Navua, Fiji, and has been in operation for almost 10 years.
Formerly a recipient of the EU-FACT funds which enabled the company to export semi and processed ginger through the supply of equipment and technical advice.
Kaiming Agro Ltd purchased 600 tonnes of fresh ginger in 2011, 1400 tonnes in 2012 and 1300 tonnes in 2013.
Located in Labasa, Fiji, it supports the Look North policy of the Fiji Government by generating economic activity in the North. Currently, the company engages with several farmer clusters on a regular basis.
Majority of the workers employed by the company are women given the nature of processing tasks associated with handling vegetables and fruits. The company is well supported by the existing infrastructure (road, shipping, air, communication).
The Government's future plan to develop an international shipping port in Vanua Levu should facilitate the company's plan to export directly to overseas.
Maqere Export Ltd (MEL) has been involved in processing and exporting of root crops and vegetables (250tonnes per annum) to Auckland, New Zealand.
It operates a processing centre in the Western division of Viti Levu with 18 staff. The enterprise is a major market for sugarcane farmers, who have diversified into vegetables and root crops to supplement their source of income.
However, Cyclone Evan struck in December 2012 and damaged the processing shed and other facilities and the farms.
Liman Timor-Leste (Liman TL) is the marketing arm for selected small and medium-size enterprises and cooperatives in the handicraft sector. Producers are selected for their high-quality products and innovative designs, and qualify as some of the best representatives of Timorese artisans.
Liman TL works together with its artisans to access the resources they need and; creates opportunities for producers to achieve their full potential. Liman TL’s mission includes: technical training, networking, product development, centralized sourcing of materials and equipment, supplying business management tools and many other coordination activities.
With the support of SPC’s European Union funded Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade project, in 2014 Liman-TL received capital investment and training for its producers. The highlight was the opening of their first high-quality marketing outlet with Liman TL’s new brand: Things & Stories. Timorese producers from all over the country now have a central hub in one of the most prestigious locations in the capital Dili, to showcase and market the best of their craftsmanship.
Originally founded as a not-for-profit corporation in FSM in 1997, Marine and Environment Research Institute of Pohnpei (MERIP) was used for community-based extension and aquaculture research and development projects, and for training students of the Ponape Agriculture and Trade School (PATS) Marine Science program.
We were later re-established as a stand-alone NGO in 2005. Our current focus is to work with individuals and families in rural, coastal communities to develop small aquaculture businesses.
Most of this work takes place in Pohnpei with communities involved in marine protected areas as a means of replacement of income lost from reduced fishing activities. Our natural marine bath sponges are exported to the New Zealand market.
Nature's Way Cooperative was founded in 1995 to serve the needs of the Fiji export industry, particularly in the four (4) Bilateral Quarantine Agreement (BQA) commodities, namely, papaya, eggplant, breadfruit and mango for markets in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Japan.
We provide the mandatory High Temperature Forced Air (HTFA) treatment. Annually, we treat around 1,500 tonnes of these commodities.
From an initial 160 members, the benefits of our services have now spread to some 3,500 individuals.
We are a locally-owned exporter based in Tongatapu with a growing reputation in the last decade as the biggest exporter of squash, butternut and watermelon to Japan, Korea and New Zealand.
We also conduct our own research trials and disseminate information to assist farmers in the growing of these fruits.
Northern Bee Farmers is a co-operative of 54 members, who are bee keepers around Vanua Levu. The co-operative engages in buying honey from bee keepers and rudimentary filtering and packaging for sale to wholesalers and distributors in the local market.
It is the co-operative's plan to enlarge its operational capacity to supply hive materials to bee keepers, monitor hives and train bee-keepers.
There are more than 200 farmers on Vanua Levu providing a strong supplier-base for the co-operative. There is strong market for honey products locally and the local industry is not meeting this demand.
It is the co-operative's plan to build its capacity to supply the local market and focus on the export market once the former is established.
Origins Pacific Limited (OPL) was founded in 2006 with the aim to produce, market and distribute quality value-added products produced in remote island communities.
Beginning with the production and export of Virgin Coconut Oil from Taveuni, Fiji, OPL has branched into a joint venture with Otta Services Ltd (OSL) of Kiribati to produce and export sugar produced from coconut sap from the island of Arorae.
Otta Services Limited has recently established a subsidiary business in organic products primarily virgin coconut oil products and coconut sap sugar.
Coconut sap sugar promises the health benefits of high Glutamine and Inositol content and a low glycaemic index of 35 compared to that of cane sugar at 58. High demand for this healthier natural alternative to other sugar is anticipated.
They then moved into a project to utilize fish waste to develop an effective and affordable organic fertilizer as an alternative to environmentally damaging and expensive imported petrochemical based fertilizers while at the same time utilizing a waste product of the fishing industry and reducing negative impacts on the environment.
With 4,000 hectares of balsa plantation, a green mill and kiln to convert balsa into composite products as export to Europe for the manufacture of wind turbine blades.
PNG Balsa, aside from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, is also preparing for ISO9000.
The FSC Certification process is led by primarily Environmental Organizations and NGOs and audited by a 3rd Party Accredited Certified body and is based on performance with an Eco-Label.
Rito Cook Islands is an enterprise that makes skincare products from the virgin coconut oil it produces. Under the guidance of renowned biochemist Dr Olga Garkavenko, Rito was able to combine the traditional virgin coconut oil with bio-molecular technologies.
The result is an advanced, safe, yet highly effective skincare regimen that is increasingly in demand around the world.
Rito is the only premium quality skincare brand made in the Cook Islands and sustainably contributes to the local economy.
Raimond has its own retail outlet where their taro flour is marketed and it is also distributed to local hotels and nearby islands within FSM. They are looking to export soon to Guam and Hawaii.
A private enterprise formed to serve as the marketing arm for Rotuma Island Council, REMCOL is exporting root crops and fruits to Tuvalu under the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between governments of Fiji and Tuvalu.
Rotuma's strategic location to Tuvalu is a clear advantage whereby its fresh produce can be exported to meet the demand of the country's food security.
REMCOL has access to the facilities on the island such the HTFA processing, cold storage and warehouse
Soil Health Pacific Ltd is a company that specializes in the manufacture of sustainable fertilizers and productions of sustainable earth food initially in Samoa.
Currently Soil Health Pacific is supplying the local market with fertilizers with 22 retail stores nationwide.
Solomon Tropical is a family-owned business established in 1995 that specialises in the production of coconut oil and copra meal.
Their core business is to extract, filter and package coconut oil (CNO) from copra which is exported in bulk.
Current export levels are 140 metric tonnes per month. In the future, they hope to increase the volume of their export of coconut oil and copra meal.
The Crab Company was established in 2009 and started land operations in mid-2011 to produce live mud crab for domestic and export markets. Young crablets are produced in a hatchery in Suva leased from the University of the South Pacific's Marine Studies.
The crablets are then nurtured at their farm located at Navua for up to 8 months to acquire a 500g marketable size. The company is now supplying major hotels in Fiji including Sofitel, The Fijian, Hilton, Pearl, and Wakaya Island Resort.
Small orders have also been received from supermarkets in Nauru and Marshall Islands. Greater interest has been received from Korean and Australian importers who require large volumes. The enterprise has room to increase production to meet the rapidly increasing demand.
Titikaveka Growers Association is a well-established company that has been in operation for many years suppling local farmers, schools, communities and hotels with vegetable seedlings.
Funded and supported by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, the Ministry of Agriculture and Trade, New Zealand Government and IACT, the company carries out composting, seedling and supply services to the people of Rarotonga.
TGA also helps in keeping local communities clean by regularly collecting green rubbish for compost production.
Vanuatu Direct Ltd is a leading supplier of South Pacific (indigenous) tribal foods with high health benefits.
Established in 2006, the company’s products include Vanu’kai Honey, Natur’kai Healthy Bites (simboro) which is a traditional food consisting of selected root crops infused with organic spices and cooked with coconut cream, and then rolled in island cabbage leaves.
Vanuatu Direct is currently exporting to New Zealand, Australia and New Caledonia. In addition, the Vanuatu Government has requested that they hold stock of the long life simboro rolls for emergency cyclone relief. Importing honey is now illegal, so Vanuatu Direct has effectively achieved import substitution as the main supplier of honey to the country.
Established in 1986 as a wholesaler and retailer of general merchant goods, Varivao Holdings changed its strategies to market local produce that its members found difficulty in finding market outlets for.
The enterprise is involved in the buying and processing of coffee parchment, roasted coffee, kava and peanut butter.
The coffee and peanut butter are sold in retail and bulk at the local markets. Varivao Holdings has received expressions of interest from buyers in Japan (2), Australia (3) and China (1).
Local sales channels include hotels (5), supermarkets (3), cruise shipping company (1), resorts (18), coffee cafeterias (15) and Solomon Airlines.
Under the FSM National Policy of utilising local staples, Wawa Chips uses the abundance of bananas available on Kosrae to make delicious crispy banana chips which they sell at the Kosrae International Airport and at canteens of local schools.
Due to keen interest from international visitors and buyers, export markets will soon be established to cater to demand in other FSM countries and Guam.
WIBDI is a non-governmental organization working with rural vulnerable families, finding opportunities for them to earn an income where they live, using the products of their own environments, basically agriculture.
WIBDI project adds value to agricultural products grown by rural farmer familiars through organic certification, fair trade certification and small scale simple technologies that enable products to reach markets.
Currently WIBDI is supplying Organic virgin coconut oil and fetau oil to the UK market as well as bananas and coffee, vanilla into New Zealand.
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