Pacific women entrepreneurs to lead new regenerative food initiative

A new pilot, created in partnership between Asia Foundation, Pacific Island Food Revolution (PIFR) and Seniman Pangan is supporting women entrepreneurs in Fiji and Samoa to turn local food traditions and biodiversity into premium, market-ready products for the hospitality and retail sectors. 

The Idea2Market Regenerative Bioeconomy Initiative aims to help Pacific women growers and small food businesses move beyond subsistence and low-income production by providing hands-on coaching, product development support, mentorship, and market access opportunities.

The initiative will also shine a spotlight on the journeys of participating women entrepreneurs through a documentary scheduled for release in late October 2026. 

In its first year, the initiative will directly support six women entrepreneurs from Fiji and Samoa.

Participants will work with Indonesia-based food innovation hub Seniman Pangan using its well-tested Idea2Market methodology to develop regenerative food products rooted in local Pacific ingredients and traditions. 

The initiative comes at a time when Pacific countries are increasingly looking at ways to strengthen food security, reduce reliance on imported processed foods, and create more opportunities for women and small businesses. 

The Asia Foundation’s Regional Representative, Sandra Kraushaar, said Idea2Market reflects a broader shift underway across the Pacific — where women entrepreneurs, local food systems, and small businesses are becoming increasingly important drivers of economic resilience, livelihoods, and trade. 

“Across the Pacific, MSMEs underpin much of the Pacific’s local economic activity and family livelihoods, and women are at the centre of that story. Pacific women have long been innovators, producers, traders, and community leaders. What initiatives like Idea2Market do is help unlock the commercial potential of that knowledge and talent in ways that strengthen incomes, food security, and long-term economic opportunity,” Ms Kraushaar said. 

She said the initiative is not simply about product development, but about helping Pacific businesses move into higher-value markets while building more resilient local economies and healthier populations. 

“There is growing international demand for high-quality, sustainable, and locally sourced food products, and the Pacific is well placed to respond to that demand. The region has extraordinary agricultural diversity, strong cultural knowledge, and a growing generation of entrepreneurs looking to scale their ideas. By investing in women-led businesses, innovation, and regenerative approaches, we are helping create pathways for Pacific products to compete, grow, and generate greater economic value locally.” 

Pacific Island Food Revolution executive director Robert Oliver, said storytelling would play a major role in inspiring more women and communities in Fiji, Samoa, and across the Pacific to participate in the regenerative economy. 

“Many Pacific food producers have not been given the visibility or support they deserve. Through this initiative, we want Pacific people to see that our local foods, our traditional knowledge, and our women entrepreneurs have real value in modern markets,” said Mr Oliver.

“This is not just about food or creating products. It’s about creating confidence, changing mindsets, strengthening food sovereignty, and showing the next generation that Pacific solutions can drive Pacific prosperity.” 

As part of the initiative, Pacific Island Food Revolution will document the journeys of participating entrepreneurs and share their stories with audiences across the region through television, digital platforms, and social media campaigns.

The initiative is expected to culminate in a major documentary showcasing women-led regenerative food innovation in the Pacific.

The initiative also aligns closely with regional priorities under the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2059 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which calls for stronger, more resilient, and sustainable Pacific economies.