Project proposal

project
Improving soil health in support of
sustainable development in the
Pacific

project number PC/2009/003

proposal phase Full

prepared by Mr. Tony Gunua SPC

Dr. Mike Smith DEEDI
Mr. Tony Pattison DEEDI
Mr. John Bagshaw DEEDI

research program Dr Richard Markham, Pacific Crops

manager
Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

Contents
1 Project outline...........................................................................................4
1.1 Funding request ...................................................................................................................4
1.2 Key contacts.........................................................................................................................4
1.3 Project summary ..................................................................................................................7

2 Justification ..............................................................................................9
2.1 Partner country and Australian research and development issues and priorities ...............9
2.2 Research and/or development strategy and relationship to other ACIAR investments
and other donor activities...................................................................................................11

3 Objectives ...............................................................................................14

4 Planned impacts and adoption pathways ............................................15

4.1 Scientific impacts ...............................................................................................................15
4.2 Capacity impacts................................................................................................................15
4.3 Community impacts ...........................................................................................................16
4.4 Communication and dissemination activities .....................................................................17

5 Operations...............................................................................................20
5.1 Methodology.......................................................................................................................20
5.2 Activities and outputs/milestones.......................................................................................25
5.3 Project personnel ...............................................................................................................28
5.4 Intellectual property and other regulatory compliance.......................................................31
5.5 Travel table ........................................................................................................................31

6 Appendix A: Intellectual property register ...........................................34

6.1 Administrative details .........................................................................................................34
6.2 Categories of intellectual property and brief description....................................................34
6.3 Foreground, background and third party Intellectual Property ..........................................35

7 Appendix B: Budget in Attached Spreadsheets ..................................37

8 Appendix C: Research and development work in Taveuni -

arrangements for collaboration and co-sponsorship..........................38

9 Appendix D: Supporting documentation..............................................42

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

1 Project outline
Project number PC/2009/003
Project title Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific
(short title: Soil Health - Fiji, Samoa, Kiribati)
ACIAR program area Pacific Crops
Proposal stage Full
Commissioned organisation Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
Project type Large
Geographic region(s) Pacific
Country(s) Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati
Project duration 4 years
Proposed start date 1 January 2011 (1 March 2011)
Proposed finish date 31 December 2014
Time to impact Category 2

1.1 Funding request

Amounts Totals
Year 1 (F/Y) 2010/11 (1 Mar 11) Pay 1 $441,551 $441,551

Year 2 (F/Y) 2011/12 Pay 2 $146,812 $298.954

Pay 3 $152,142
Year 3 (F/Y) 2012/13 Pay 4 $ 154,682 $304,878
Pay 5 $150,196
Year 4 (F/Y) 2013/14 Pay 6 $152,271 $299,379
Pay 7 $147.108
Year 5 (F/Y) 2014/15 Pay 8 $148,220 $148,220

Total $1,492,981

1.2 Key contacts

Project leader: commissioned organisation (SPC)
Title and name Dr. Tony Gunua
Position Coordinator of the Plant Health Thematic Group
Organisation Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Phone (679) 337 0733 ext. 35294
Fax (679) 337 0021
Email [email protected]
Postal address Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji
Street address 3 Luke Street, Nabua, Suva, Fiji
(if different to postal)

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

Administrative Contact: commissioned organisation (SPC)

Title and name Ms Sushil Narayan
Position Divisional Administrative Officer, Land Resources Division
Organisation Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Phone (679) 3370733 Ext: 35226/ 3379226 (dl)
Fax (679) 3370021/ 3386326+
Email [email protected]
Postal address Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji Islands
Street address Luke Street, Nabua, Suva, Fiji Islands
(if different to postal)

Collaborating scientist: Australian collaborating organisation

Title and name Dr. Mike Smith
Position Senior Principal Scientist
Organisation DEEDI
Phone (07) 5453 5941
Fax (07) 5453 5901
Email [email protected]
Postal address PO Box 5083, SCMC, Nambour, Queensland 4560
Street address Maroochy Research Station
(if different to postal) 47 Mayers Road, Nambour

Project coordinator: partner country - Fiji

Title and name Mrs Miliakere Nawaikula
Position Analytical chemist; A/Director of Research – Koronivia Research Station
Organisation Ministry of Primary Industries
Phone (679) 3477044
Fax (679) 3400262
Email [email protected]
Postal address PO Box 77, Nausori, Fiji
Street address Koronivia Research Station, Kings Road, Nausori
(if different to postal)

Collaborating researcher: partner organization - Fiji

Title and name Mr Peter Kjaer
Position Farmer-training coordinator
Organisation Tei Tei Taveuni (Farmers' Association)
Phone (679) 888 0261
Fax
Email [email protected]
Postal address Po Box 99, Waiyevo, Taveuni, Fiji Islands
Street address
(if different to postal)

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

Project coordinator: partner country - Samoa

Title and name Mr David Hunter
Position Senior Lecturer in Soil Science, School of Agriculture – Alafua Campus
Organisation University of the South Pacific
Phone (685) 21671
Fax (685) 22347
Email [email protected]
Postal address University of the South Pacific, Private Mail Bag, Apia, Samoa
Street address USP Alafua Campus, Apia, Samoa
(if different to postal)

Collaborating researcher: partner organization - Samoa

Title and name Mr Parate Matalavea

Position Director of Research

Organisation Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Phone (685) 23416
Fax (685) 20607
Email [email protected]
Postal address Nu'u Research Station, Crops Division
P.O. Box 1874
Apia
Street address
(if different to postal)

Project coordinator: partner country - Kiribati

Title and name Mr. Tokintekai Bakineti
Position Principal Agricultural Officer
Organisation Ministry of Environment, Lands & Agriculture Development
Phone (686) 29418 / 29419 / 28108
Fax
Email [email protected]
Postal address Ministry of Environment, Lands & Agriculture Development, Tarawa,
Kiribati
Street address Bikenibeu, Tarawa, Kiribati
(if different to postal)

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

1.3 Project summary

Declining soil fertility and biological soil health represent a major threat to sustainable
agricultural development in the Pacific. Traditional land management systems on the
Pacific islands were based on a long bush-fallow system, or in the case of atolls, recycling
of large amounts of organic material in pits or heaps. However, smallholders who have
intensified crop production to supply growing urban and export markets, have typically
failed to replenish soil nutrients and organic matter adequately. They have consequently
experienced falling yields and increasing problems with soil-borne diseases and
nematodes that are symptomatic of declining soil health. In Queensland, soil health issues
in intensive horticultural crops have arisen mainly through an over-reliance on inorganic
fertiliser and pesticides.

A major project on the Development of Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific (DSAP)

involved sixteen Pacific Island countries and has had considerable success in introducing
participatory research and extension approaches to diagnose crop production problems
and develop solutions that could be adopted at community level, including technologies
for mitigation of declining soil fertility and erosion. However, in the absence of a coherent
strategy for underpinning intensification of Pacific cropping systems and convenient tools
for monitoring the biological health and fertility status of soils, progress has been hard to
assess and consolidate. In Queensland, researchers have successfully developed
concepts and methods in soil health management (especially in banana production
systems), but are at an early stage of encouraging adoption by growers.

The present project builds on the success of DSAP in participatory trialling of soil fertility
management technologies and of the research-and-development community in
Queensland in developing integrated approaches to managing soil health in fragile tropical
soils under intensive production in ecologically sensitive areas. A Small Research Activity
(SRA – PC/2010/038), funded by ACIAR, has allowed the project team and their partners
to assess the current status of soil health research and extension in the target countries
(Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati); to identify cropping-systems-in-crisis and appropriate pilot sites
to investigate them; as well as field research partners and initial strategies to tackle the
respective problems. The proposed project now focuses on developing strategies for
restoring soil health and research-based indicators that growers and extension officers
can use to assess soil health status (including key chemical, physical and biological
variables), as well as extension approaches to communicate soil health concepts and
methods to growers.

This project, building on the lessons learned during DSAP and the SRA, contributes to the
broader development goal of improving the economic and environmental sustainability of
intensive smallholder crop production in the Pacific Region. Its specific aim is to develop
strategies for improving soil health in selected Pacific cropping systems. It has three
objectives:
• To elucidate crop production and related soil health problems at specific pilot sites
and develop physical, chemical and biological indicators underpinning an integrated
approach to improving soil management.
• To evaluate ‘best-bet’ soil improvement practices for sustaining intensive Pacific crop
production.
• To increase the understanding of soil health concepts (including physical, chemical
and biological processes) among smallholder horticulture producers and their service
providers and enhance their capacity to apply these concepts for sustained
productivity.

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

Research will focus on pilot sites in Fiji and Samoa (taro), Kiribati (vegetables) and
Australia (banana). Detailed discussions with farmers and rapid surveys will be conducted
at each pilot site to assess current knowledge, skills and aspirations of land holders and to
benchmark current soil properties and management practices. Soil physical, chemical
and biological indicators will be developed (at different levels of sophistication for different
stakeholders) that can be used in developing soil health management strategies. ‘Best-
bet’ soil improvement and management tactics will be trialled at four locations (three in the
Pacific and one in Australia) to determine the best options for soil health management on
weathered basalts (Fiji and Samoa), coral atolls (Kiribati) and an alluvial plain (North
Queensland). Information packages and extension techniques will be developed to assist
growers and their intermediaries to develop sustainable soil health management practices
for tropical crops in the Pacific region.

Expected outputs of the project are an enhanced understanding of the role soil biology
plays in sustaining productivity, along with strategies and best practices for improving soil
health in key cropping systems, and soundly-based indicators appropriate for monitoring
the health status of soils by researchers, extension officers and smallholders. The
capacity of farmer intermediaries to understand soil health concepts and to use
participatory methods in support of helping farmers to improve soil health will be
enhanced. An outcome of this capacity building will be that growers themselves are able
to use soil health concepts and practices to sustainably improve the productivity of crops.

Community-level impacts of the project will include more sustainable incomes from key
commodities (taro, vegetables and bananas) with reduced environmental impacts from
agriculture (including reduced clearing of forests due to improved taro yield), more
efficient use of agricultural inputs, and reduced soil erosion. In Kiribati, food security and
improved nutrition will be fostered by developing more resilient and sustainable vegetable
production systems.

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

2 Justification

2.1 Partner country and Australian research and development

issues and priorities
'Soil health' refers to the ability of the soil to function for a given purpose, in this case to
support the growth of crops, and includes the chemical, physical and biological processes
necessary for this. The degradation of the soil in any of these dimensions impacts on the
economic viability and environmental sustainability of agriculture and in turn on
agriculture’s ability to support food security and livelihoods. In both Pacific island countries
and Australia, growers have intensified crop production, especially of high-value
horticultural crops, in response to economic signals without sufficient attention to securing
this vital part of the natural resource base. Conventionally, where attention has been given
to soil issues, priority has been given to chemical nutrients (usually addressed through
inorganic fertiliser application) and physical structure, with less attention to biological soil
health (which assures ‘ecosystem services’ including nutrient recycling and biological
control of pests and pathogens).
Pacific
Smallholder production of horticultural crops is the main source of staple foods and a
major source of rural incomes in the Pacific island countries. However, the productivity
and sustainability of many cropping systems is threatened by a decline in the fertility,
structure and biological health of soils. In volcanic islands, soil fertility was traditionally
maintained through long 'bush fallow' periods; on atolls, leaf-fall tended to sustain shallow
but fertile soils in diverse agro-forestry systems or growers assembled large amounts of
organic matter in heaps or pits for intensive horticulture. Both systems have tended to
break down with increasing population pressure and migration. Problems have in some
cases reached crisis point as farmers have evolved from subsistence production of staple
foods for local consumption to selling crops off the farm to supply growing urban and
export markets for staple crops such as taro and cassava, as well as high-value vegetable
crops, without adopting new technologies to sustain this more intensive production.
Moreover, traditional knowledge of actively managing and investing in organic residues
has been lost. The results have been ‘nutrient mining’ and a decline in the physical,
chemical and biological properties of soils; the loss of biological functions of soil is
reflected in increasing problems with nematodes and soil-borne pathogens (e.g. Pythium
spp. in ginger and Erwinia in taro); quality and biosecurity problems in fresh export
products (especially taro); and declining productivity from existing land, stimulating
farmers to open new land, leading to deforestation and associated negative environmental
impacts.
The importance of these problems has been recognised in an ACIAR priority for the
Pacific Islands of Improving Food and Nutritional Security by the development and
adoption of integrated and more sustainable production management packages for food
staple, fruit, vegetable and plantation crops. This priority is based on those of the Land
Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) that have been
developed in close consultation with the governments and agricultural research and
extension services of Pacific Island Countries.
A major project on the Development of Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific (DSAP),
implemented by SPC and national partners in sixteen countries, used participatory rural
appraisal (PRA) with farmers and rural communities for the identification and adoption or
adaptation of technologies to solve agricultural problems. The priority problems identified
in this way were soil infertility and erosion (along with poor availability of planting materials
and narrow genetic base of traditional crops, irregular supply of water, pests and diseases

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

of crops, poor management of livestock, poor quality local feeds for animals, and poor
solid waste management). Among the technologies trialled on farm for soil improvement,
using participatory research and extension methods were: the use of: composts, charcoal
and other soil amendments; cover crops like Mucuna and Dolichos lablab and
multipurpose tree species such as Gliricidia sepium; vetiver grass as live contour barriers;
and the application of specific nutrients (especially iron and zinc). Significant uptake and
impacts at community level were reported (for instance for Mucuna in Tonga) and
considerable awareness and capacity developed among national researchers and
extension staff. However, the project stopped short of establishing long-term strategies for
continuing and supporting the improvement of soil health and fertility. This would in any
case have been difficult given the lack of an adequate scientific knowledge base
concerning soil processes in Pacific island soils and appropriate indicators to monitor
progress.
Soils in the Pacific vary greatly in their inherent properties (especially between atolls and
islands of volcanic origin and depending on their age, climate and cropping systems),
which means that soil management strategies need to be tailored to the specific soil
environment and needs of farmers. Therefore, to improve the sustainability of agriculture
in the Pacific region, a robust set of soil health indicators needs to be developed that
enable land managers to recognise problems, develop management systems to overcome
soil constraints and monitor progress in implementing them. Current nutrient testing
services are able to offer advice relating to soil chemistry (though not necessarily with
reliability and at an affordable price), but they do not account for the physical and
biological components of soil health nor their interactions in the soil environment.
Extension capacity needs to be further strengthened both in the understanding of soil
health concepts and in their application through participatory research and training
approaches.
Australia
Soil health research fits into the priorities of the Australian banana industry as it is able to
address multiple constraints faced by the industry. Soils in the north Queensland banana
production areas are typically clay loam soils with good drainage characteristics prior to
intensive cultivation. Current practices designed to favour banana production also
increase the risk of agricultural impacts on the environment. Nutrient management and
applications of nitrogen and phosphorus to crops are of concern due to movement off-
farm to streams and rivers. The situation in north Queensland is of increasing importance
due to proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and the banana industry needs to demonstrate
that it is able to manage its nutrient application minimising off-farm movement of nutrients.
Nutrient imbalances and a decline in soil organic matter have been linked with a decline in
the health of the soil and increased incidence of pest and diseases such as plant-parasitic
nematodes. The deterioration in soil structure, due to compaction through the use of
machinery increases erosion potential and may reduce crop production by restricting root
growth. Conversely, practices that increase organic matter inputs can improve water
infiltration, retain mobile nutrients and increase soil biodiversity, leading to suppression of
soil borne pests and diseases.
Soil health has also been recognised as a priority by government as a means of
reconciling agriculture production with environmental protection. Soil health is of
particular concern in tropical regions due to the vulnerability of the soils to degradation
and the need to protect World Heritage value sites such as the Great Barrier Reef. Soil
health projects have been conducted with the Australian banana industry since 2002. The
projects have tried to develop tests to determine the best indicators to relay the “health” of
the soil to banana growers. The techniques used ranged from “do it yourself”, based on
the model provided by USDA kits, to sophisticated laboratory testing. These projects have
seen an evolution in the way soil health is tested and have stimulated growers’ interest in
developing better farming practices. However, this work has not yet developed a
satisfactory delivery mechanism of information to the banana growers in Queensland.

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

Further information and demonstrations of improved soil health practice are required for
the Australian banana industry to stimulate widespread adoption of soil health practices.
Recent research in Australia has highlighted the subtle loss in production with declining
soil health, particularly a decline in the biological indicators, in long term monocultures of
bananas, where organic matter is not replenished. More research is required in the
development of biological soil health indicators and how they relate to soil management
practices, to enable information to be disseminated to growers. Furthermore, more
information is required on the role of soil organisms in the development of healthy soils
and how this benefits sustainable banana production to prevent soil degradation.
Innovative farmer practices, such as minimum tillage, cover cropping and companion
planting, need to be validated for their impacts on soil health and ability to overcome soil
constraints to meet increasing demands placed on the banana industry for environmental
protection.
The banana industry in Queensland provides an ideal platform for the work in the Pacific
in view of the tropical environment (with similar issues of high rainfall, temperature and
disease pressures) and because Australian banana growers already have some
awareness of soil health, as well as the desire to improve it. Furthermore, there remain
external pressures on the banana industry, as with other horticultural industries in Pacific
island nations, to demonstrate that they are using best management practices to grow
crops to ensure they are having minimal impact on the surrounding environment.

2.2 Research and/or development strategy and relationship to

other ACIAR investments and other donor activities
Because of the similarities in the challenges facing the production of tropical crops in the
Pacific islands and Australia and the priority recognised in addressing soil health
management issues at the grower level in both regions, the project proposes to use a
participatory 'action research' model. Previous research and recent farmer interactions
have suggested a range of 'best bet' options for improving soil health (especially based on
restoring or increasing soil organic matter), so on-farm research can proceed immediately
to evaluate the most effective and adoptable of these. In parallel, detailed research can
take place to better understand specific pest and disease problems (and, if necessary,
develop complementary strategies to manage them) and to develop and validate the 'tool
kit' of indicators used to monitor soil health. Also in parallel will be the training of farmers
and extension workers in soil health concepts and the development of appropriate
extension materials and techniques to support this effort.
In addition to building on the participatory prioritization and problem-solving approach of
DSAP, this research strategy builds directly on a number of previous projects on soil
health that have given the team (all soil health practitioners) experience with the specific
research and extension approaches to be followed in the project. The most directly
relevant include:
• ACIAR HORT/2008/040 - Integrated crop production of bananas in Indonesia and
Australia. This project is currently developing a number of indicators, such as soil
biochemical tests (labile C, fluorescein diacetate and β-glucosidase, nematode
community analysis) that will have direct relevance to this project. The project is also
investigating physical, chemical and biological indicators related to suppression of soil
borne diseases.
• ACIAR PC/2004/049 - Improved farming systems for managing soil-borne pathogens
of ginger in Fiji and Australia. This project has investigated the effects of organic
amendments, crop rotations and tillage on soil-borne pathogens in various ginger
farming systems with the aim of creating more productive, disease-suppressive soils.

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

• HAL VG06100 - Vegetable plant and soil health. This project developed a system of
identifying soil constraints, selecting soil health indicators and determining the
appropriate management practices that was able to address the identified soil
constraints.
• ACIAR SMCP/2002/085: Utilising basic soil data for the sustainable management of
upland soils in Vietnam and Australia. The SCAMP process allows the identification of
soil constraints using field, in-field and laboratory tests, and sets guidelines for the
improvement of the soil constraints.
• HAL FR02025: Banana root and soil health. This project identified key soil health
indicators for the Australian banana industry and the impacts of different management
practices, such as organic amendments and inter-crop vegetation, on soil health
indicators, sustainability of crop production and suppression of plant-parasitic
nematodes.
An SRA (PC/2010/038 Identifying pilot sites and research methods for soil health research
in the Pacific) undertaken as part of the development of this project, allowed the project
team to consult with researchers, extension officers, growers and other stakeholders in
high-value crop production in the Pacific islands. A number of high-value cropping
systems were considered as candidates for further research; however, there was a high
level of consensus that two intensified systems had reached a state of crisis, associated
with soil health problems, to the level that farmers would be prepared to consider
fundamental changes to their production system. These were export taro production (with
target sites in Taveuni, Fiji, and Upolu, Samoa), and vegetable production in Tarawa,
Kiribati (this latter with a strong link to soil health research at the Centre of Excellence for
Atoll Agriculture in Kiribati, established by SPC with funding from the International Fund
for Agricultural Development). As the project develops and indicators become available it
is foreseen that the project's approach could be developed and validated in some of the
other cropping systems proposed in the course of the stakeholder consultations including:
banana production for processing in Fiji (supported by the SPC-FACT project - Facilitating
Agricultural Commodity Trade); exports of organic Misi Luki bananas from Samoa
(supported by Women-in-Business Development Inc., Samoa); exports of red papaya
from Fiji (linking with research already supported by ACIAR through PC/2008/003
Strengthening the Fiji papaya industry through applied research and information
dissemination); and exports of ginger (where some soil health management approaches
were already developed by ACIAR under PC/2004/049 Improved farming systems for
managing soil-borne pathogens of ginger in Fiji and Australia).
Taro production in Fiji is already strongly market-oriented with numerous smallholder
farmers selling to national urban markets and to exporters supplying especially the New
Zealand and, to a lesser extent, Australian markets. Incautious intensification has already
led to a crisis of sustainability linked to declining soil health, especially in Taveuni where
80% of export taro is produced. Some 30% of corms are currently rejected as failing to
meet adequate size/quality standards for exports (up from about 5% when exports from
this island got under way); at least ten shipments of taro from Fiji to Australia, worth some
$400,000, have been 're-exported' during 2010 due to interceptions of corm rots, believed
to originate in the field; and clearing of forest to provide new, more fertile land for taro
production is regarded as a crisis for biodiversity conservation.
AusAID, as part of a cyclone relief package, is already supporting more sustainable taro
production in Taveuni and has established links between SPC, the Ministry of Primary
Industries (MPI) research and extension staff and a dynamic farmers' association, Tei Tei
Taveuni. Current support covers planting materials and trials of Mucuna as a green
manure cover crop, supplemented by inorganic fertiliser applications. Meanwhile, Tei Tei
Taveuni has obtained the support of UNDP for training of farmers in biological farming
principles and will secure the services of an Australian Volunteers International (AVI)
volunteer to assist with farmer training, through the ongoing 'soil schools' and on-farm

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

follow-up visits. AusAID's bilateral mission to Fiji will further reinforce this collaboration by
providing supplementary funding (equivalent to approx. 20% of the project budget), for
additional equipment and materials to support the joint research and training effort.
Samoa was previously the Pacific’s main exporter of taro but this industry was devastated
by a taro blight epidemic; the industry is now in a recovery phase following major
investments by AusAID (under the Taro genetic resources: conservation and utilization -
TaroGen - project), other donors and the government in taro breeding, as well as more
modest investment by ACIAR in resolving virus problems (e.g. PC/2006/053 Evaluation of
the impact of Dasheen mosaic virus on and other viruses on taro yield). Samoa has
resumed exports on a pilot level but is already encountering difficulties in meeting quality
standards. A dialogue established during the SRA between the project team and the
Samoa Farmers’ Association, Women in Business Development Inc., the Taro
Improvement Project, and individual exporters, indicates an awareness of the link
between quality issues and soil health problems. A visit to a pack-house managed by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries also provided the project team with direct evidence of
soil-borne pest problems linked to high rejection rates and, as in Taveuni, stakeholder
discussions cited the search for more fertile soil for taro production as a driver in the
movement of farmers to new land on hillsides, resulting in deforestation and the risk of
erosion problems.
In both Fiji and Samoa, this project will link directly to, and work closely with, another
SPC-led and ACIAR-funded project, PC/2007/118 on Developing cleaner export pathways
for Pacific agricultural commodities which is in the final stages of project development and
approval. This project has also selected taro exports from Fiji and Samoa as a priority for
attention and will pick up the supply chain 'from the farm gate'. Close operational links
between the two projects will ensure that problems of biosecurity concern that can be
addressed in the production system (such as infestation by plant parasitic nematodes) will
be tackled by the present soil health project.
The project will be managed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), building
on their experience of managing DSAP, a major multidisciplinary project funded by the
European Union, as well as numerous other projects funded by ACIAR and other donors.
DSAP focused on strengthening the linkages between stakeholder groups in order to
enhance the capacity of local communities and to strengthen national technical
capabilities in agricultural production and in the use of a variety of extension
communications approaches.
Partnerships with soil researchers already established under DSAP will provide a
foundation for the present project while the Pacific Islands Extension Networks (PIEN) will
both contribute expertise and promote the uptake of project outputs. The project will
strengthen the Centre of Excellence for Atoll Agriculture, established in Tarawa, Kiribati, in
2008, with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and
will benefit from the long-standing partnership with the University of the South Pacific
(USP), especially the agriculture campus at Alafua, Samoa that counts soil research
among its priorities. A number of students in the 2010 intake of students under the
ACIAR-USP scholarship scheme (HORT/2007/072) have already indicated their desire to
undertake thesis research in conjunction with the present soil health project. For support
to soil analyses, the project will draw on two of the most important soil laboratories in the
Pacific Islands, that of Fiji MPI at Koronivia Research Station and USP-Alafua, which
provide analytical services through the South Pacific Agricultural Chemistry Laboratory
Network (SPACNET).

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

3 Objectives
Within the broader development goal of improving the economic and environmental
sustainability of intensive smallholder crop production in the Pacific Region, the purpose
of the project is to develop strategies for improving soil health in selected Pacific cropping
systems (including extension approaches and indicators to monitor progress) and
underpinned by a sound understanding of biological processes.
Specific objectives of the project will be to:
1. Elucidate crop production and environmental soil problems at specific pilot
sites and develop physical, chemical and biological indicators underpinning an
integrated approach to soil management. Building on the experience of DSAP,
project efforts will be focussed on the key concerns of producers at each pilot site and
to provide baseline data on the current situation. Based on the experience of the
Queensland team and on further research as needed, indicators will be selected from
the existing ‘tool-kit’ or developed to address the key concerns identified. Specific
pest and disease problems (such as mealybug and nematode problems already
noted in the SRA) will also be investigated and supplementary control tactics
developed where necessary.
2. Evaluate ‘best-bet’ soil improvement practices for sustaining intensive Pacific
crop production. Participatory methods will be used to identify ‘best-bet’ strategies
for improving soil health that are adapted to local needs and conditions; these will
then be tested in on-farm trials with lead farmers and used in ‘training of trainer’
exercises. Impacts of soil improvement efforts will be monitored through the use of
the project’s soil health indicators, as well as through changes in crop yields, reject
rates (for export taro), and other economic and environmental parameters. The
economic costs and benefits of best-bet soil improvement strategies will be assessed.
3. Increase the understanding of soil health concepts (including physical,
chemical and biological processes) among smallholder horticulture producers
and their service providers and enhance their capacity to apply these concepts
for sustained productivity. This objective involves both developing more effective
extension methods for communicating soil health messages and applying them at a
pilot level, via capacity building among extension officers, in order to see
improvements in soil management at the farm level.

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

4 Planned impacts and adoption pathways

The proposed project is expected to have scientific, capacity and community impacts
benefiting the Pacific scientific and extension community, improving capacity to deliver
information that meets the needs of landholders and to improve livelihoods of
communities through more sustainable and secure food production.
A major focus of the project is centred on pilot sites and their farming communities and a
capacity building and communication strategy will be formulated to achieve wider impact
and adoption. We aim to draw on the support of existing activities in these areas that have
a soil health focus. Even so this project is considered a Category 2 project in that the
adoption of ‘best-bet’ management practices beyond the initial target area could begin
within a 5-10 year time frame and we would expect at least a 40% adoption of practices
within the target area by the end of this current project.

4.1 Scientific impacts

New developments will be made in scientific capacity to investigate soil health systems.
Soil systems rely on physical, chemical and biological soil properties interacting to perform
vital soil functions to sustain crop production and the environment. This project will test
the utility of a variety of techniques for measuring and quantifying soil health systems in
tropical environments and the impacts that farming practices may have on soil health.
Soil chemical testing for nutrients is routine and often performed by government and
commercial laboratories, though work remains to be done in the Pacific to ensure the
reliability and affordability of testing systems. Testing for soil physical properties is not
done routinely although there are several well established methods available. However,
the methods, knowledge and understanding of the soil biology and its importance in
sustainable crop production systems are currently lacking. This project intends to use
currently available techniques to measure soil biological activity and apply them to
selected intensive crop production systems used in the Pacific and Australia. These
methods will include nematode community analysis, soil biochemical tests and soil
molecular testing and how they interact with the physical and chemical soil environment to
help soils function to sustain crop production.
The biophysical research is expected to generate innovations in participatory extension
techniques relevant to soil health management and possibly other dimensions of natural
resource management. From an Australian perspective this project will help deliver
practical technologies into the hands of the banana industry, but importantly, will develop
mechanisms for communicating information to the banana growers in Queensland that
has been lacking in the past. The knowledge gained from this project will have
applications for other horticultural industries.
With sound methodology and measurement of soil properties, the results obtained from
pilot scale studies should be readily extrapolated to the wider farming community.
Furthermore, by developing a sound extension program and understanding the farming
community’s knowledge, aspirations, skills, attitudes and culture and developing a
relevant framework by understanding the soil constraints, findings from the pilot studies
should be readily extrapolated beyond the pilot site areas.

4.2 Capacity impacts

The scientific development from the project will be used in Australia to develop soil
indicators and guidelines that can be used in a soil health testing service for the banana
industry. The indicators will be linked to soil constraints and management options so that
when indicators fall outside an optimal range it will be possible for land managers to apply

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

management intervention or change soil management systems to improve soil functions

appropriate measures to sustain crop production and protect the environment. There is a
current need for a soil health testing service for banana growers and the informal pilot
system established between DEEDI laboratories, agribusiness and banana growers will
be strengthened by the project.
The 'toolbox' of extension materials and approaches can be put to use immediately (and
further refined) in the 'soil schools' being conducted by TeiTei Taveuni, which will be
further strengthened during the current project by the involvement of a full-time AVI
volunteer. Training materials and methods can also be incorporated in the more general
training offered by Tutu Rural Training Centre, operated in Taveuni by the Catholic
church.
Similar capacity building is envisaged at SPC, MPI, USP-Alafua and the Centre of
Excellence for Atoll Agriculture as the project develops, with a view to ensuring that
growers and their service providers have access to an accurate and affordable system for
monitoring soil health in Pacific cropping systems. The capacity of extension services to
understand soil health concepts and practices, as well as their ability to use participatory
methods to communicate these messages to farmers will be strengthened. Indeed, the
capacity building of government and community services people through work in progress
at pilot sites, and supported by organised meetings and workshops, will be the first to
benefit. However, it can be expected that further adoption within the farming community
will be hastened by ‘change champions’ that will be identified through the information and
training systems put in place. Through this process, adoption will be tailored to community
needs and values and skills should be retained post-project. In general, the empowerment
of farmers in soil health concepts and practices is also expected to contribute towards the
evolution of a more needs- and demand-driven extension service.

4.3 Community impacts

4.3.1 Economic impacts
The development of soil health systems to overcome soil constraints is expected to
improve livelihoods of smallholders as better knowledge is developed on how to manage
the soil constraints and increase agricultural production without eroding the natural
resource base. Furthermore, agricultural systems will be tested that will lead to more
efficient use of resources, such as nutrients and organic amendments, to develop best
management practices. The development of systems to suppress soil borne pests and
diseases will also be investigated, reducing the need for soil applied pesticides.
Likely impacts are hard to estimate in the Pacific in view of the lack of baseline data. As
an example of the kind of benefits that can be expected, however, it has been noted that
the proportion of taro roots rejected as under-sized and unsaleable in commercial
operations in Taveuni, Fiji, has risen over recent years from 5% initially to over 30% at the
present time. Improved soil management is expected to restore the rejection rate to its
previous level. New Zealand is the main export market for taro from the Pacific Islands,
with Fiji supplying 80% of the current imports of 6000 tonnes/annum and with Taveuni’s
3,600 taro farmers receiving approximately FJ$1.50-$2/kg at the farm gate for export-
grade taro. Rejects have so far cost the Taveuni taro export industry Fj$ 5-6 million each
year, in what was previously a FJ$ 16 million dollar export industry. As Samoa re-enters
the export taro trade, we would hope the project can help avoid similar problems with low
yields and rejects.
The DSAP project revealed that a major constraint to improved productivity was poor soil
health. Options for improving soil health will be based on a PRA process, and combined
with methods to analyse costs and benefits, a measure of the economic impact of
improved soil health measures can be ascertained.

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

The Australian banana industry, where data is available, is currently worth around $400
million annually. Improvements due to the adoption of new soil health management
systems are likely to result in a reduction in soil applied pesticides and nutrient
applications, which will have an impact within 5 years. This is expected to result in a $5
million annual saving to the banana industry. However, greater long term benefits are
expected as soils develop greater nutrient recycling, pest and disease suppression, and a
greater resistance to erosion. Therefore, the benefits are expected to rise to as much as
$20 million (5% of the value of the industry) 10 years after the completion of the project.
Similar benefits have been achieved through the suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes
in the banana industry (Stirling & Pattison, 2008)

4.3.2 Social impacts

Social benefits will include the reduction in the amount of pesticide needed (especially for
the banana industry in Australia), making agricultural practices safer for producers. There
are community expectations that agricultural production will not impact on the pristine
environment surrounding tropical agricultural production regions, which this project will
help to achieve. In Kiribati, the project aims to improve food security for smallholder
growers and vegetable production has been identified by the government and a number of
donor organizations as important in improving the health and quality of life of the Tarawan
community. The experience of DSAP already suggests that communities are empowered
in a number of ways by participatory approaches that enable members to better manage
their natural resources.

4.3.3 Environmental impacts

The project will aim to protect the environment surrounding agricultural production areas
by reducing the farming impact on the off-farm environment. This will be an important
focus of the project by assessing the risks that farming practices may have on the
surrounding environment. In Taveuni and Upolu, growers in search of land that is not
exhausted by current farming practices are moving into forested areas, a practice that
must be stopped. In Kiribati, clean ground water is of paramount concern, and a
sustainable organic production strategy is the goal of the project. To reduce these risks
the project will aim to develop ‘best-bet’ management practices. These will include
optimising the use of organic residues (both green wastes and composted materials) to
develop soils that are better able to suppress soilborne pests and diseases, as well as
retain water and nutrients. A major gain, both in Australia and the Pacific islands, is
reduced soil erosion and nutrient run-off related to both the use of appropriate plants and
to increasing the stability and resilience of soils; this in turn helps to maintain the health of
reef systems that are vitally important for both the multi-million dollar tourist industry and
for inshore capture fisheries and harvest of a range of sea-food products.

4.4 Communication and dissemination activities

Developing communication and extension approaches is recognised as a key activity
within the project. While a participatory research approach is central to the project, it will
need to be developed in the context of local communities. Different levels of tools and
information resources will need to be developed to meet the needs of diverse
stakeholders, such as landholders, agricultural service providers and research and
extension personnel.
A key strategy will be to collaborate closely with existing local government extension staff
and support them in using their farmer networks and proven local communication
strategies for message dissemination. In Samoa, we will also collaborate with USP staff
who work closely with taro growers and exporters/wholesalers.
For communication to be effective we will need to identify our various audiences and
adapt the message and communication method to suit. Target audiences will include:

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• Pilot site farmers

• Landowners, lease-holders and other village community members, including
village leaders and mentors.
• Local government research and extension officers
• Staff of SPC, USP, NGOs and other extension service providers
• Government planners and policy makers
• Soil testing services staff at Koronivia, Fiji and USP-Alafua
Key messages will need to be identified for each target audience. This will be done by
working closely with target audience members to determine what information they want
and need, and for reviewers selected from the target audience to provide comment on
draft communications before they are finalised. Developing the most appropriate tools for
communication will again be target audience-dependent, and we will consult each target
audience to determine the most appropriate way to communicate most effectively.
Issues to consider will be available communication technologies, accepted forms of
communication by the target groups, reading ability of target groups and application of
adult learning principles. For example, adults learn more quickly and effectively if they are
actively involved in the learning process, so we intend holding learning sessions on pilot
sites and facilitating farmers and service providers to practice activities such as soil
assessment and field testing under guidance, and encourage them to draw and build on
their own practical experiences.
The most likely forms of communication will be visits for informal chats, field days, and
training workshops, printed information with an emphasis on diagrams and photos and
telephone. Awareness communication would include using newspapers, leaflets, radio,
television and computer, depending on availability and common use by the target
audiences.
In addition, in the overall context of developing a communication strategy, it is important to
conduct some evaluation of acceptance and effectiveness of our communications,
particularly at the grower and local service provider level. Finally, a strategy for continuing
information flow after the end of the project will be developed during the project. Key
aspects of developing the strategy will be:
• Building the knowledge and skills of local service providers in relevant
technologies, effective learning facilitation and information transfer.
• Encouraging improved networks between growers and grower groups by
demonstrating the benefits of learning together and from one another.
It is anticipated that this project will also deliver soil health training systems that will
complement current nutrient testing services to help landholders manage soils.
It is recognized that the primary beneficiaries of this project will be smallholders, with
communication and information packages targeted to meet their needs. However, it will
be important to include industry service providers to ensure consistent information is being
extended to smallholders and to strengthen their information networks. It is anticipated
that information packages will be made available based on formats from previous projects
for banana and vegetable growers, but the culturally most appropriate methods for
communicating information and building knowledge will also be pursued within the project.
The information will be updated and re-focused to ensure its relevance to growers in the
Pacific islands and in a format that will facilitate uptake and adoption.
Dissemination of the project activities is anticipated through scientific forums and
conferences such as Australasian Soilborne Disease Symposium and Soil Science
Society meetings. It is also anticipated that scientific results will be published in peer
reviewed journals. The Pacific Islands Extension Network and other projects and activities
of SPC will provide numerous pathways for uptake of the project’s outputs.

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In addition, Pacific project staff will benefit by attendance at special conferences and
workshops (e.g. Composting Conference in Adelaide in 2011), as well as visits with
Australian project staff.

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5 Operations
The project will be centred around a participatory 'action research' approach to evaluate,
on farmers' fields, the most appropriate strategies for improving soil health and
sustainably increasing soil fertility (Objective 2); evaluation, by researchers and farmers,
will involve the use of the project's 'tool kit' of soil health indicators, as well as
measurements of crop yields and other biophysical indicators, and assessment of costs
and benefits of such actions.
To prepare for the action research, some detailed consultation will be required with the
farmer groups (Objective 1) to select representative experimental plots and lead farmers.
Discussions, literature reviews and direct observations undertaken during the recent
scoping study (PC/2010/038) indicate that the over-riding priority for improving soil health
is to increase soil organic matter (in both taro export systems on volcanic soils and
vegetable production in atoll soils). Identifying adequate sources of organic matter that
can be accessed at reasonable cost, however, can be a major challenge in island
environments; although some ‘best-bet’ materials and strategies have been provisionally
identified in the course of the scoping study (see below), these will also need to be further
refined in the course of initial farmer (and extension worker) consultations (Objective 1).
These initial consultations will also provide an opportunity to benchmark current
knowledge of, and attitudes towards, soil health. Finally, Objective 1 will provide the
opportunity to carry out some diagnostic research on specific issues (such as the
nematode damage, rots and mealybug infestations noted during the scoping study).
Some relevant extension materials are already available from existing work on soil health
in banana systems in Queensland and other experiences elsewhere. However, extension
materials and approaches will be refined during the project (Objective 3) to provide
growers and extension workers with both an understanding of soil health concepts and the
practical means to monitor and improve soil health.

5.1 Methodology
5.1.1 Initial Scoping (Objective 1, in part)
Building on the SRA, the project team will further explore, through a Participatory Rural
Appraisal (PRA) process, the soil constraints faced by land holders, their current
management and information systems and barriers to adoption of improved soil health
practices. The project team will also work with landholders to identify potential ‘best-bet’
management practices.
Questionnaires will be developed to determine: social and environmental characteristics of
the land holdings; the current knowledge, constraints and aspirations of land holders in
regards to soil management; and barriers to adoption of soil health practices. Importantly,
the interactions will be used to determine the information needs and the best methods of
delivering soil health information to the growers and how they would respond to different
soil management scenarios. Simultaneously, soil samples will be taken to set a
benchmark of physical, chemical and biological soil properties and to evaluate the
characteristics of the productions system currently being used. The soil and
environmental constraints on agricultural production will be determined using a Soil
Constraints And Management Package (SCAMP) process during the initial scoping work.
The selection of lead farmers and experimental plots will also use a PRA model; however
it will be necessary that the sites should be representative of soil type and land form (e.g.
slope). They should also be representative of most farmers’ practices in the region,
including crops grown, rotations, cultivation, fertilising, water application, and pest and
disease control. Moreover, sites should be located centrally so that neighbouring farmers

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can easily travel to the sites, ideally so that other farmers will regularly pass the sites in
their travels (e.g. on their way to town, for supplies and services). The project team will
work closely with regional government extension teams to implement a locally acceptable
and participative strategy for selecting the number and location of pilot farmers and
experimental plots. The aim would be to involve the local farming community as much as
practically possible in the selection process.
In Taveuni, the local Ministry of Agriculture extension team will conduct community
meetings allowing the farming community to select likely pilot site farmers by vote, and, as
is the way in these communities, other farmers would then be involved in preparation,
planting and maintenance of the sites.
In Samoa, an initial community and environment assessment will be needed to determine
local extension partners and the most efficient and acceptable approach for pilot site
selection to enable maximum diffusion of site results. However, the farmer network
established by the Taro Improvement Program provides an advanced starting point with
well-established communication in place, along with mapping of sites and some
characterization of farmers' holdings and crops.
In Tarawa, the process would be conducted by extension staff from the Centre of
Excellence for Atoll Agriculture. Candidates for participatory research and training would
be selected at a community meeting following pre-meeting awareness activities by the
extension staff. Initially sites would be restricted to the peri-urban regions of South
Tarawa, with possible extension to other Tarawa and outer island sites later. In addition to
working with spatially representative communities, groups to be targeted will include youth
groups and the Womens’ Federation who have a centre in South Tarawa.
In each location, we would ideally be looking for farmers with the following characteristics:
• Recognised and respected as an average to good farmer.
• Having average wealth and resources (growers who have, or are perceived by the
community to have considerable resources at their disposal will be
unrepresentative of most farmers in the region, and therefore results from the site
would not be readily disseminated).
• Culturally acceptable to most farmers in the community.
• Having good networking and communication skills.
• Willing to share their experiences and practices with others.
• Willing to cooperate with the project team and work closely with local research and
extension staff.
• Willing to host field days at their farm.
• Willing to trial new practices and technologies.
Local extension staff will advertise the experimental sites with regional communities and
conduct regular field days at these sites.

In Taveuni, existing MPI research trials on growers’ farms will inform the ‘best-bet’
approaches to soil management on the pilot sites and thereafter will be conducted
concurrently with the pilot demonstration sites to fine-tune the ‘best-bet’ practices being
demonstrated on the pilot sites.

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5.1.2 Development of soil health indicators (Objective 1, in part)

Key physical, chemical and biological soil health indicators will be identified (from the
existing ‘tool kit’) to address major soil constraints identified in the course of the PRA.
Such indicators must be suitable for use by smallholder growers and their intermediaries
in the Pacific to monitor progress. The aim would be to develop indicators at different
levels of sophistication from simple qualitative tests to tests that could be conducted by
service providers (or, in some cases farmers themselves) after training, through to
emerging techniques that serve as useful research tools. In particular, the development of
low cost methodologies for measuring soil health are being developed by DEEDI, such as
soil biochemical tests, which would allow a continuation of the measurements beyond the
life of the project by service providers in the Pacific. However, these techniques require
validation and refinement for different laboratories and with current methodologies.
Physical indicators would include characteristics such as texture, bulk density, infiltration
and aggregate stability. The tests would be conducted on samples collected from farms.
Chemical indicators would form part of a standard nutrient test that are commercially
available, or from government/university laboratories in the Pacific, and would include
extractable nutrients, organic C, pH, CEC. Special attention will be needed to identifying
tests that can be conducted reliably and at an affordable price by service providers in
Pacific countries.
Biological indicators would need to be selected that are sensitive to management changes
and that are relevant to soil functions, such as disease suppression or nutrient recycling.
The biological indicators could be selected from biochemical tests such as labile C,
fluorescein diacetate (FDA), β-glucosidase; bioindicators such as weeds, earthworms,
insects and analysis of nematode community diversity and structure; and molecular tests
such as T-RFLP (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism) to better characterize
microbial communities.
A suitable foundation is provided by the Cornell University Soil Health Test (CUSHT)
which includes a range of tests that have been found to be:
• reasonably priced,
• require minimal infrastructure to perform the tests,
• identify constraints in specific soil processes that go beyond nutrient deficiencies,
• provide practical management strategies specifically targeted at the soil constraints,
• allow farmers to monitor their soils over time and develop responsive strategies prior
to degradation occurring and
• are easy to interpret.
This approach has already been found to have merit in the context of Australian banana
and vegetable industries and could be modified for use in the Pacific.

5.1.3 ‘Best-bet’ management practice (Objective 2)

‘Best-bet’ management practices for cropping systems that overcome identified soil
constraints and improve soil, economic and environmental indicators will be developed
and tested on farmers' fields through participatory 'action research' involving both formal
researchers and the farmers hosting the trials.

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Studies will be conducted initially at pilot sites with a limited range of crops and soil types
common to the region (i.e. taro on weathered basalt slopes in Fiji and Samoa; and
vegetables on a coral atoll in Kiribati) and will ultimately lead to applications in a wider
range of sites and farming systems. One site in Australia, alluvial plains, using the
banana industry as model, will also be used as a contrast to the Pacific situation. In
Australia a site for the ‘best bet’ management practices will be established using practices
such as minimal tillage, cover crops and retention of crop residues to prevent the decline
in soil health indicators and promote improved agronomic characteristics of bananas.
Furthermore, banana growers will be engaged to establish some or all of the components
of the best-bet management practices on their farms, which will be monitored for changes
in soil health indicators over the life of the project.
Sites for the pilot studies have been tentatively identified during the SRA and in
consultation with local communities. The treatments to be evaluated at the sites will be
determined in consultation with smallholders in a Participatory Planning Workshop (PPW),
following closely on the PRA, to ensure that they are relevant; these are conceived as
demonstration activities requiring community input into planning and planting. A key
activity will be to review the organic residues available (both green manure and composts)
and their characteristics and costs. The management strategies evaluated will aim to
increase the economic and environmental sustainability of crop production and land
management.
Treatments provisionally identified for further research in taro system are:
• management of residues from fallow and weeding (generated by herbicides or
hoeing)
• Mucuna green manure cover crop (supplemented or not with inorganic fertiliser);
this is the main focus of existing MPI/TTT/SPC trials and therefore accessible for
monitoring using the project's indicator toolkit but may not need to be incorporated
as specific treatments in the project's own on-farm research
• residues from multipurpose trees/shrubs (Gliricidia, Inga etc) grown on field
margins, and used as a top dressing or shredded and incorporated
• 'cocopeat' from grinding of low-density coconut wood (available as a by-product of
coconut replanting operations or milling of cocowood products)
• biochar from low density coconut wood chips or other organic matter (e.g.
coppicing of Gliricidia, Inga etc).
Treatments provisionally identified for further research in atoll vegetable systems are:
• residues from weeding and fallen leaves (breadfruit etc) as mulch/top dressing, in
trench before planting or composted
• residues from multipurpose trees/shrubs (Gliricidia, Inga etc) grown on property
boundaries and applied as a top dressing or shredded and incorporated
• domestic/urban organic waste, shredded and/or composted.
• seaweed collected on shores (and suitably leached to reduce salt).
Measurements of physical, chemical and biological indicators will take place at the pilot
sites and changes in soil properties documented. Erosion control, particularly in the
Australian context as Pacific agriculture already involves minimum tillage, will also be an
important factor in the development of best management practices. This information will
also be used to determine the sensitivity of the indicators to soil management practices. It
will also be used to demonstrate the holistic interactions which occur in soil health
management.

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Some simple Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) will also be used in the evaluation of best-bet
options. For instance, we would want to know:
• what is the economic cost to the farmer, measured in terms of reduced productivity
or smaller sized taro corms (and the reject rates by the market), of poor soil
health? and
• are the extra inputs (labour/organic matter) required to maintain good soil health,
justified by an increase in productivity and therefore financial reward? i.e. is the
additional financial return greater than the cost of the additional inputs (time and
money)?
There will be some soil management techniques that might prove more labour intensive
(i.e. producing composts and incorporating into the soil) and others that might be relatively
easier (using weedy fallows), and therefore time/cost effective. These might not produce
the very best results in terms of soil health, but may be more likely to be taken up by
farmers because of their effectiveness from a CBA perspective. These issues will be
explored and will inform best and most appropriate practice.
A more complete evaluation of the cocopeat vs. biochar options may be appropriate in
Taveuni, in view of the substantial capital investment that these processes imply. This
could include the evaluation of the 'carbon footprint' of these processes (in view of the fuel
and machinery required to prepare the biomass) and exploration of the possibility of
selling energy (biogas or electricity) produced as by-products of pyrolysis, to offset costs
and increase the economic sustainability of these options.
Current practices in Australia, on the other hand, include rotations versus monoculture. It
could also include replant bananas versus bananas that have a fallow period. Other soil
health practices could include minimum-tillage versus full knock-down cultivation and
rebuild the beds using a companion crop versus bare soil in the plant crop. The expected
changes in Australia may well be increased use of fallow crops to build soil organic
carbon, reduced cultivation and increased use of intercropping with companion grasses to
reduce erosion and reduce soil degradation.

5.1.4 Strategy for information and training systems (Objective 3)

This objective involves developing an information system that allows landholders to
receive information, increase their knowledge of soil health management and apply this
knowledge for greater productivity and sustainability. Different information packages and
delivery protocols will be tested at pilot scale to give growers an opportunity to determine
the best means of receiving information to meet their needs. This should accelerate
adoption and increase the knowledge of smallholders.
Training of landholders, farm advisors and agricultural service providers will take place at
pilot scale within the project (and more broadly as an outcome, and as part of the impact
pathway of the project) to build the capacity of the agricultural community to adopt and
understand soil health practices. It will allow the information from soil health testing to be
interpreted and extended through local communication networks.
Over the course of the project, it will be important to develop a longer-term communication
strategy (see Section 4.4) that will help landholders to receive information more efficiently
and increase their knowledge of soil health management. Such a strategy will guide the
research-and-development efforts of their service providers. A strategy will include the
promotion of what benefits there are to growers from improved soil health, identification of
soil health constraints on their land, identification of management practices that may be
able to overcome soil constraints and identification of the appropriate indicators to monitor
changes in soil health properties.

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

5.2 Activities and outputs/milestones

Objective 1: To elucidate crop production and environmental soil problems at
specific pilot sites and develop physical, chemical and biological indicators
underpinning an integrated approach to soil management.
The SRA has helped, provisionally, to identify some of the constraints posed by farming
practices currently in use at the potential pilot sites. For instance in Taveuni, field visits
and soil sampling backed up by laboratory studies at Koronivia Research Station, has
revealed that parasitic nematodes, in particular Pratylenchus coffeae and Meloidogyne
spp., have contributed to taro root damage observed in the field. This could go a long way
towards accounting for poorer yields and small corm size leading to higher reject rates for
export grade taro. Heavy infestations of mealybugs (currently being identified) were
observed by the SRA team and corm rots (e.g. Erwinia) have been intercepted in taro
shipments from Taveuni. Although similar field and laboratory studies are needed for
Samoan taro, a close inspection of taro corms destined for export seemed to reveal
similar soil-borne pathogen problems (especially related to nematodes). Experience in
Australia and elsewhere has shown that improved nematode control can be achieved by
managing organic carbon levels in the soil and increasing the abundance and diversity of
soil microorganisms. Meanwhile, as root rots and related problems are investigated and
brought under control, attention can be given to soil nutrition, as soils in Taveuni and
Upolu are known to be acidic with low levels of potassium and phosphorus (Leslie 2002,
Leslie 2009).
In Tarawa, soil health problems are mainly related to the inadequate levels of organic
matter in the topsoil. This is not a new problem as Morrison (1986) found organic carbon
levels <0.5% which in turn accounted for poor water retention, low phosphorus and low
nitrogen. In addition, the soils are inherently high in calcium carbonate. A soil amelioration
project is urgently needed with an aim of improving soil organic matter and lifting
vegetable production.
No. Activity Outputs/ Due date of Risks / assumptions Applications of outputs
milestones output/
milestone
1.1 Partici- Lead farmers 6 mo Social/political Project team and partners
patory and experi- constraints allow all understand project and
rural mental sites suitable lead farmers impact pathway;
appraisal selected; and sites, documented state of KAP
(PRA) understanding representative of KAP, provides baseline for
of knowledge, to be selected as targeting and assessing
attitudes and project partners capacity-building efforts
practices
(KAP) at sites
developed and
documented
1.2 Partici- ‘Best-bet’ 6 mo Partners have sufficient Agreed best bets and
patory tactics for soil grasp of soil health methods will serve as basis
planning improvement concepts and practices for achieving objective 2
workshop and method for to select options.
(PPW) evaluating Practices are realistic
them agreed and capable of
adoption
1.3 Bench Crop history 12 mo Pest/disease complex Understanding of soil health
marking recorded; and nutrient limitations status at each site will guide
Current soil understood for each research program;
properties site difference in status
documented at (beginning and end) will
beginning (and provide evidence of any
end) of project impact

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

1.4 Diagnostic Correct 12 mo (also Major pest and disease A more complete diagnosis
research diagnosis of refined, 24 problems are soil- of pest and disease
(on pest the nature, mo, 36 mo) related problems will be used to
and causes and guide the choice of best-bet
disease interactions of soil improvement options
problems) soil-borne pest and the selection of the
and disease most relevant soil health
problems indicators
available
1.5 Selection Balanced 'tool- 6 mo Soil an pest-and-
of soil box' of the (refined or disease problems are
health most relevant modified at correctly diagnosed
indicators soil health 12 mo, 24 and susceptible to
indicators mo as monitoring at
selected necessary) reasonable cost
1.6 Training in Research 24 mo Most appropriate tool- Participatory research
use of teams trained box selected with end- teams are able to conduct
tools for in use of this user in mind the evaluations (objective 2)
monitoring tool-box effectively
soil health

Objective 2: To evaluate ‘best-bet’ soil improvement practices for sustaining

intensive Pacific crop production.
Development and testing of ‘best-bet’ management practices for cropping systems that
overcome identified soil constraints and improve soil, economic and environmental
indicators.
No. Activity Outputs/ Due date of Risks / assumptions Applications of outputs
milestone output/
milestone
2.1 Assess ‘best- Understan- 12 mo; 24 Practices are realistic Results will inform further
bet’ practices ding of the mo; 36 mo; and capable of development of soil
at each site impacts of 48 mo adoption; practices improvement tactics and
soil improve- are effective in the training program for
ment tactics changing soil farmers and intermediaries;
on soil variables eventually, following
physical, capacity building and
chemical and adoption, pilot sites will
biological have in place practices that
attributes will improve yield and
available reduce losses
2.2 Assess Understan- 12 mo; 24 Yield and pest-and- Results will be used initially
effectiveness ding of how mo; 36 mo; disease incidence are to inform the development
of tools and results of 48 mo closely related to soil of the toolkit and the
indicators simple variables; tools are content of the training
indicators appropriate for program; subsequently, the
correlate with measuring relevant tactic can be used to refine
yield, and variables soil improvement tactics
pest-and- and monitor the progress in
disease soil improvement
incidence
2.3 Cost-benefit Evaluation of 12 mo, 24 The most significant Results will be used initially
analysis (CBA) the costs and mo, 36 mo, costs and benefits to refine the soil
benefits of 48 mo can be quantified improvement tactics and
the best-bet then to inform the capacity
soil improve- building actions
ment tactics
available
2.4 Compare Table of KAP 24 mo; 48 Farmers have Farmers more empowered
perceptions of with data mo understood to implement ‘best-bet’
farmers with collected at teachings; results practices
research each site presented in the right
assessments format

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

Objective 3: To increase the understanding of soil health concepts among

smallholder horticulture producers and their service providers and enhance their
capacity to apply these concepts for sustained productivity.
Develop an information and training system and a longer-term strategy that will allow
growers and landholders to receive information and increase their knowledge of soil
health management and guide the research-and-development efforts of their service
providers. 'Development' of the training system in the context of this project involves 'road-
testing' it at pilot level with small groups of farmers and their service providers and then
further improving the content and methods. Wider use of the training system to build
capacity among growers and their service providers will be undertaken by other partner
and/or outside the current project. A strategy for this longer term and wider use of the
training system will be a product of the project.
No. Activity Outputs/ Due date of Risks / Applications of outputs
milestone output/ assumptions
milestone
3.1 Develop and Training 48 mo (with Practices are Initial outputs will be
test farmer materials intermediate realistic and capable progressively refined and
information and relating to products at of adoption used in the training-of-
training system. soil health 12 mo and trainers activity;
concepts and 24 mo) eventually training
soil improve- materials will be used by
ment project partners and
practices beyond for wider capacity
available building
3.2 Conduct “Toolbox” of 48 mo (with Extension partners Initial outputs will be
'training-of- proven intermediate ready and willing to progressively refined as
trainers' extension products at adopt training they are used in training-
resources 24 mo) methods of-trainers exercises;
and methods eventually extension
available strategies will be used in
wider capacity building
3.3 Develop Research, 48 mo Partners recognise Strategy will be used by
strategy for development the value of research, development
long-term and developing long- and extension
collaboration in extension term strategy in soil organizations to further
research and (RD&E) health RD&E develop knowledge of
capacity strategy in soil health in Pacific
building soil health crops and to build
agreed capacity in using soil
health concpets and
practices to enhance
sustained productivity

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

5.3 Project personnel

5.3.1 List of participants involved in the project

Commissioned organization
Name Sex Agency and position Discipline and role in Time Funding
(m/f) project input
(%)
Tony Gunua M SPC –Team Leader, Plant Plant Pathologist; Project 30% SPC
Health leader and Theme Leader
for Plant Health at SPC
Emil Adam M SPC – Information, Extension; provide 10% SPC
Communication & expertise on training
Extension materials; link to other
extension efforts in Pacific
Research Officer - SPC Soils/extension; manage 100% ACIAR
TBA the field sites, collate data,
day-to-day running of
project
Sushil Narayan F SPC – Div Administrative Project administration 10% SPC
Officer
Rajhneal Deo M SPC - Economist Costs-benefits analyses 10% SPC
Sanfred Smith M SPC - FACT Advice to taro export 5% SPC
industry; labour budgets

Australian commissioned and collaborating organisations (or IARC)

Name Sex Agency and position Discipline and role in Time Funding
(m/f) project input
(%)
Mike Smith M DEEDI - Senior Principal Plant physiologist and 20% DEEDI
Scientist Australian project leader
Sharon Hamill F DEEDI - Principal Biotechnology and 5% DEEDI
Scientist microbial ecology
Emily Rames F DEEDI – Technician Biotechnology and 40% ACIAR
microbial ecology
Tony Pattison M DEEDI - Principal Soil biology and soil 20% DEEDI
Nematologist health systems
Tegan Kukulies F DEEDI - Technician Soil biology and soil 40% ACIAR
health systems
Jenny Cobon F DEEDI – Nematologist Soil biology and soil 10% DEEDI
health systems
Wayne O'Neill M DEEDI - Plant Pathologist Soil biology and soil 5% DEEDI
health systems
John Bagshaw M DEEDI - Senior Extension Extension, environmental 20% DEEDI
Horticulturist and food safety
management systems

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

Partner country institution(s) or collaborating IARC

Name Sex Agency and position Discipline and role in Time Funding
(m/f) project input
(%)
Rohit Lal M Fiji MPI – Extension Extension and liason with 40% Fiji-MPI
Officer (Taveuni) taro farmers
Malakai M Fiji MPI – Research Research and trial work at 40% Fiji-MPI
Vukinavanua Officer (Taveuni) taro pilot sites
Ami Sharma M Fiji MPI – Soil Technician Laboratory work on Fiji 30% Fiji-MPI
pilot sites
Mereia Fong F Fiji MPI – Plant Pathology and 30% Fiji-MPI
Pathologist nematology support
Poase Nauluvula M Fiji MPI – Principal Taro agronomist and 10% Fiji-MPI
Research Officer postharvest physiology
Peter Kjear M TTT farmer association Farmer, liaison with TTT 5% Self/TTT
training efforts
AVI M/F AVI hosted by TTT Extension, conduct farmer 40% AusAID/
'soil schools' (for TTT), TTT
test training materials (for
project)
David Hunter M USP-Alafua, Senior Soil Scientist and 10% USP
Lecturer Statistician; oversight of
USP input to project
Daya Perera M USP-Alafua, Senior Soils Laboratory work on 5% USP
Technician Samoan pilot sites
Tolo Iosefa M USP-Alafua, Senior Taro agronomist and link 10% USP
Agronomist with farmers
Rupeni M USP-Alafua, Plant Pathology and 5% USP
Tamanikayiaroi Pathologist nematology Support
Philip Reti M USP-Alafua, Soils Laboratory work on 10% Samoa-
Technician Samoan pilot sites MAF
Tokintekai Bakineti M Kiribati MELAD – Principal Research and extension; 20% MELAD,
Agricultural Officer MSc student with USP- Kiribati
Alafua
Roota Tetoake F Kiribati MELAD – Extension 10% MELAD,
Extension Officer Kiribati
Tianeti Beena M Kiribati MELAD – Soil Scientist 5% MELAD,
D/Director Research Kiribati

5.3.2 Description of the comparative advantage of the institutions involved

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) was established by the 22 Pacific Island
countries and territories in 1947 and is now well established as the region’s leading
technical, advisory, training and research organization. SPC has a regional mandate for
agricultural development and this is implemented though it’s Suva-based Land Resources
Division (where the ACIAR Pacific Crops office is located). Among the many projects
implemented by SPC is DSAP (Development of Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific),
started in mid-2003 and that has conducted participatory surveys and established pilot
sites for technology adaptation and adoption in 16 Pacific Island countries. DSAP aims to
demonstrate how farmers, researchers and extension officers can collaborate to solve
agriculture production problems and several of its pilot sites (and many of the project’s
activities) focus on soil fertility issues. SPC will also take over coordination of the South
Pacific Agricultural Chemistry Laboratory Network (SPACNET), which aims to improve the
quality of soil, plant and water analysis carried out in the Pacific Region. The Network was
previously funded by NZAID with some support from SPC and managed by Landcare
Research New Zealand. SPC LRD will coordinate it with potential funding from FAO Food
Security and Sustainable Livelihood Program (FSSLP).

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

DEEDI (Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation), QPIF

(Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries) has been investigating soil health systems
in tropical and subtropical agriculture for the past 10 years. This has led to the
development of a network of research and extension staff with practical knowledge of
crops involved and the delivery of outcomes to growers. DEEDI has research stations
and laboratories located in regional areas which allow staff to establish effective
collaborative relationships with stakeholders. It also means the constraints faced by
growers can be simulated on research stations. Access to equipment and skills within
DEEDI ensure project milestones can be met.

5.3.3 Summary details of the role of each participant involved

Tony Gunua is Coordinator of the Plant Health Thematic Group of SPC. He will be overall
team leader of the present project and will ensure the project can achieve its objectives in
the Pacific.
Emil Adam is ag. Coordinator Information and Extension at SPC. He has more than 10
years experience in extension and agricultural education. He will bring expertise in
communication for development and training materials and will assure linkage to the
Pacific Islands Extension Network.
Rajhneal Deo is an economist at SPC; under the guidance of Tim Martyn (Development
Economist) and Jonathan Bower (ODI Research Fellow in Economics), he will assess the
costs and benefits of the best-bet soil improvement options being trialled with farmers in
Taveuni; Sanfred Smith, field officer with the SPC FACT and a person already thoroughly
familiar with the taro industry in Taveuni, will assist by helping the project team to develop
'labour budgets' for the various soil improvement tactics.
Mike Smith is a Senior Principal Scientist based at Maroochy Research Station with
experience working in the Pacific since 1987, most recently controlling soilborne
pathogens of ginger in Fiji using a farming systems approach. He will be the Australian
project leader and provide advice with regard to plant health and productivity.
Sharon Hamill is a Principal Scientist based at Maroochy Research Station. Sharon has
extensive experience in application of clean plant material for improved crop production.
Her current research with beneficial bacteria and other amendments aims for sustainable
production practices targeting reduced fertiliser inputs, improved plant health and disease
resistance.
Emily Rames is a Technician (Molecular Biology/ Microbiology) based at the Maroochy
Research Station and has extensive experience in molecular biology. She will use her
experience to measure various soil microbial parameters as they relate to yield and
disease suppression.
Tony Pattison is a Principal Nematologist based at South Johnstone in north Queensland.
He will provide information on soil biology, selection of indicators and analysis of
agricultural systems.
Jenny Cobon is a Nematologist based at Indooroopilly. Jenny has experience in
developing and applying nematode community and biological indicators to agricultural
production systems and research experiments during her recent involvement in soil health
projects in vegetables and bananas.
Wayne O'Neill is a Plant Pathologist based at Indooroopilly with extensive research
experience in the areas of Fusarium wilt diseases, plant-parasitic nematodes and soil
health. He has been involved in several recent soil health projects in vegetables and
banana, including ACIAR projects with collaborative field work in Indonesia.
John Bagshaw is a Senior Extension Horticulturist based at Bundaberg. John has 25
years of experience in horticultural extension and has been a member of previous soil

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

health projects. John's expertise extends into farm management systems including post
harvest, quality assurance, food safety and environmental management.
In Fiji, Ami Sharma is a Senior Research Officer in the soil and water testing laboratory at
Koronivia Research Station. He has been involved with SPC LRD in fertilizer trial works
on taro.
Rohit Lal is a Field Extension staff at Taveuni. He is currently involved in the soil
management work there involving the establishment of pilot sites using ‘best bet’.
Mereia Fong is a Plant Pathologist with experience working with soilborne pathogens of
root crops in Fiji.
In Samoa, David Hunter of USP Alafua Campus is a soil scientist as well as a
biometrician, with many years of experience of research leadership and training,
specializing in experimental design and analysis, and soil fertility and plant nutrition
studies.
Daya Perera of USP Alafua is a soils technician with many years of technical experience
in the analysis of physical and chemical parameters of soil, plant and feed samples.
Tolo Iosefa is an agronomist/crop breeder of USP Alafua with extensive experience in taro
breeding and participatory rural appraisal activities and has very strong linkages with taro
farmers in Samoa via the Taro Improvement Programme.
Rupeni Tamanikayiaroi of USP Alafua is a plant pathologist with extensive research
experience in plant protection work on taro, sugarcane, vegetables and other root crops.
Philip Reti is a soils technician of USP Alafua with five years of technical experience in the
establishment and maintenance of field experiments, and collection and analysis of soil
and plant samples for various physical, chemical and biological properties.
In Kiribati, Tokinitekai Bakineti is currently a Principal Agricultural Officer and also the
national coordinator of the Centre of Excellence for Atoll Agriculture. He is a former DSAP
staff.
Tianeti Beena is Deputy Director of Agriculture and in charge of research. His back
ground is in soil science.

5.4 Intellectual property and other regulatory compliance

All information used is currently in the public domain and no proprietary intellectual
property is anticipated to be developed as a result of this project.

5.5 Travel table

PART A Commissioned Organisation or IARC
Trip Person or position Estimated date From / to Purpose Duration
no. of travel (days)
1 Tony Gunua September 2011 Suva/Brisbane Project reporting 5d
2 Research Officer April 2012 Suva/Brisbane Project reporting 5d
3 Tony Gunua September 2012 Suva/Brisbane Project reporting 5d
4 Research Officer April 2013 Suva/Brisbane Project reporting 5d
5 Tony Gunua April 2014 Suva/Brisbane Project reporting 5d

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

PC = partner country, A = Australia

PART B Australian Collaborating Organisation/s

Trip Person or position Estimated date From / to Purpose Duration
no. of travel (days)
1 Mike Smith, John Maroochy, 3d
Bagshaw Bundaberg, Cairns
2 Tony Pattison April 2011 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 17 d
/Kiribati Evaluation &
Engagement
3 John Bagshaw April 2011 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 17 d
/Kiribati Evaluation &
Engagement
4 Mike Smith April 2011 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 17 d
/Kiribati Evaluation;
Engagement &
Partnerships
5 Tony Pattison October 2011 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 10 d
Evaluation &
Engagement
6 John Bagshaw October 2011 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 10 d
Evaluation &
Engagement
7 Tony Pattison March 2012 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 17 d
/Kiribati Evaluation;
Engagement &
Partnerships
8 John Bagshaw March 2012 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 17 d
/Kiribati Evaluation;
Engagement &
Partnerships
9 Mike Smith October 2012 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 10 d
Evaluation &
Engagement
10 Tony Pattison October 2012 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 10 d
Evaluation &
Engagement
11 John Bagshaw October 2012 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 10 d
Evaluation &
Engagement
12 Tony Pattison March 2013 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 17 d
/Kiribati Evaluation;
Engagement
13 John Bagshaw March 2013 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 17 d
/Kiribati Evaluation;
Engagement
14 Mike Smith March 2013 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 17 d
/Kiribati Evaluation &
Engagement
15 Tony Pattison October 2012 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 10 d
Evaluation &
Engagement
16 John Bagshaw October 2013 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 10 d
Evaluation &
Engagement
17 Tony Pattison March 2014 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 17 d
/Kiribati Evaluation &
Engagement

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

18 John Bagshaw March 2014 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Monitoring, 17 d

/Kiribati Evaluation &
Engagement
19 Mike Smith October 2014 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Reporting & Post- 17 d
/Kiribati Project Planning
20 Tony Pattison October 2014 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Reporting & Post- 17 d
/Kiribati Project Planning
21 John Bagshaw October 2014 Australia/Fiji/Samoa Reporting & Post- 17 d
/Kiribati Project Planning

PC = partner country, A = Australia

PART C Overseas Partner Organisation/s

Trip Person or position Estimated date From / to Purpose Duration
no. of travel (days)
1 Tokintekai Bakineti April 2011 Kiribati/Australia Attend International 15 d
Soil Composting
Conference and visits
with DEEDI staff
2 Rohit Lal June 2011 Fiji/Australia Visit with DEEDI staff 15 d
and field/lab visits
3 Philip Reti June 2012 Samoa/Australia Visit with DEEDI staff 15 d
and field/lab visits
4 Ami Sharma June 2012 Fiji/Australia Visit with DEEDI staff 15 d
and field/lab visits
5 Malakai June 2013 Fiji/Australia Visit with DEEDI staff 15 d
Vukinavanua and field/lab visits

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

6 Appendix A: Intellectual property register

Inquiries concerning completion of this form should be directed to
[email protected]

6.1 Administrative details

Project ID PC/2009/003
Project title Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific
Assessment provider Dr Mike Smith
If not Australian project
leader, provide title
Date of assessment 19/04/2010

6.2 Categories of intellectual property and brief description

Plant or animal germplasm exchange
Does the project involve: Yes No
Provision of germplasm by Australia to a partner country? X
provision of germplasm from a partner country to Australia? X
provision of germplasm from or to an IARC or another organisation and a project X
participant?
use of germplasm from a third party X
material subject to plant breeders/variety rights in Australia or another country? X

If “yes” to any of the above, for each applicable country provide brief details of the material
to be exchanged:
• If the germplasm exchange can be finalised before the project commencement,
provide a Materials Transfer Agreement.
• If the specific germplasm to be exchanged cannot be identified until after project
commencement, indicate the type of material likely to be exchanged.
Country Details of plant or animal germplasm exchange

Proprietary materials, techniques and information

Does the project involve provision (from one party to another) of: Yes No
research materials or reagents (e.g. enzymes, molecular markers, promoters)? X
proprietary techniques or procedures? X
proprietary computer software? X

If "yes" to any of the above, for each applicable country provide:

• brief details of the materials or information, the organisation providing, and the
organisation receiving the materials
• a copy of any formal contract between the parties.
Country Details of proprietary materials, techniques and information

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

Other agreements
Is any aspect of the project work subject to, or dependent upon: Yes No
other materials-transfer agreements entered into by any project participant? X
confidentiality agreements entered into by any project participant? X

If "yes" to any of the above, for each applicable country provide:

• brief details of the agreements and conditions
• a copy of any such agreement before project commencement.
Country Details of other agreements

6.3 Foreground, background and third party Intellectual Property

This includes, but is not limited to patents held or applied for in Australia and/or in partner
countries and/or in third countries. For example, Foreground IP includes any new
germplasm, reagents (such as vectors, probes, antibodies, vaccines) or software that will
be developed by the project.

Foreground IP (IP that is expected to be developed during the project)

Ownership of or rights to Foreground IP other than as detailed in the ACIAR Standard
Conditions must be approved by ACIAR.
Yes No
Is it expected that there will be Foreground IP? X

If "yes",
• for each applicable country provide brief details of the IP and who will have rights to
use the IP (e.g. Commissioned Organisation, Australian collaborating organisation/s
partner countries).
• If a patent, give details of patent status (provisional, application, granted), priority date
and designated countries.
Country Details of foreground IP

Background IP (IP that is necessary for the success of the project but that has
already been created and is owned by parties to the project)
Any agreements in place regarding Background IP should be provided to ACIAR prior to
project commencement.
Yes No
Is it there Background IP? X
If “yes”,
are there any restrictions on the project's ability to use the Background IP?
would there be any restriction on ACIAR or the overseas collaborator claiming their
rights to IP for the project based on the Background IP (refer ACIAR Standard
Conditions)?

If "yes", for each applicable country provide brief details of:

• the source of the Background IP.

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

• whether the Commissioned Organisation and/or Australian collaborators and/or

developing country collaborators own it.
• any conditions or restrictions on its use.
Country Details of background IP

Third Party IP (IP that is owned by or licensed from other parties)

Agreements governing the use of third party IP can be related to research materials,
research equipment or machinery, techniques or processes, software, information and
databases.
Yes No
Is there any relevant Third Party IP that is essential to the project? X
If “yes”, would there be any restriction on ACIAR claiming its rights to IP for the
project (refer ACIAR Standard Conditions)?

If "yes", for each applicable country provide brief details of:

• the source of the Third Party IP.
• the applicable country/ies, the circumstances/agreement/arrangement under which
the IP is to be obtained or used by the project partners (for example, material transfer
agreement, germplasm acquisition agreement, confidentiality agreement, research
agreement or other arrangements).
• any conditions or restrictions on its use.
Country Details of third party IP

Other contracts, licences or legal arrangements

Yes No
Are there any other contracts, licences or other legal arrangements that relate to the X
project?

If "yes", for each applicable country provide brief details.

Country Details of other contracts, licences or legal arrangements

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

7 Appendix B: Budget in Attached Spreadsheets

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

8 Appendix C: Research and development work in

Taveuni - arrangements for collaboration and
co-sponsorship.
Problem statement
Farming - and especially the production of taro for export - is vital to the life of Taveuni, in
the Fiji islands, contributing to both the national economy and the livelihoods of local
communities. Taveuni contributes some 60% of Fiji's taro exports - which have recently
totalled some 10,000 tonnes per year, valued at approximately Fj$20 million. It has been
estimated (McGregor et al. 2010) that as many as 17,000 people in Taveuni are at least
partly dependent on taro for their livelihoods.
This industry is, however, currently in crisis, for a number of inter-linked reasons. At the
root cause is the lack of sustainable, intensified production techniques for taro, capable of
supporting large-scale commercial production of the kind currently being practiced.
Traditionally, taro farmers have cultivated the crop on naturally fertile soils (especially in
valley bottoms and on lower slopes) and after a relatively short period of production have
allowed the land to recover under 'bush fallow' for several years. In response to economic
incentives to produce taro for 'export' to urban communities and overseas, farmers have
simply increased the area under production or prolonged the cycles of cultivation on the
same land, without sufficient investment in mineral fertilisers and organic matter to replace
the nutrients removed with the crop. This has led to a 'vicious circle' of falling yields,
shorter fallow periods, increased areas under taro production and incrreasing
deforestation, as farmers move to steeper slopes (with heightened risks of erosion) in
search of more fertile land.
Within the crop, falling soil fertility and biological health is leading to reduced size and
quality of taro 'roots' - with an increasing proportion failing to meet export standards (the
proportion 'rejects' rising from around 5-10% initially to 30-40% today) and with a rising
incidence of soil-borne pests and diseases, especially nematodes and mealybugs.
Interceptions of nematodes on arrival of the taro in New Zealand are often treated with
methyl bromide fumigation, reducing shelf life and root quality and increasing costs.
Interceptions on arrival in Australia of rotting corms (perhaps infected with primary soil-
borne pathogens, or associated with the mealybug damage) has led to the 're-export' of
several consignments during 2010, corresponding to losses of some Fj$400,000 and
seriously threatening the viability of the industry. An additional 'stress factor' was the
damage caused by Cyclone Tomas in March 2010.
Seeking a solution
The chronic nature of the taro production problems has been recognized by a group of
leading farmers, comprising the TeiTei Taveuni (TTT) farmers' association. When funds
were available from AusAID to mitigate the devastating consequences of Cyclone Tomas,
the taro producers indicated that these resources could be most effectively deployed to
assist the farming community in adopting more sustainable production practices, based on
improving soil health. In collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
and the Fiji Department of Agriculture (DoA), technologies being formally trialled include
the use of a green manure cover crop - velvet bean, Mucuna pruriens - in combination
with different levels of inorganic fertiliser. Other technologies being considered include
leguminous agroforestry trees and the use of 'Biobrew' organic liquid fertiliser.

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

The TTT group have also placed a great deal of emphasis on the need for farmer
education in soil health principles and practice, to encourage the adoption of more
sustainable production practices. They have successfully applied to the Global
Environment Facility of the United Nations Development Programme, with support from
NZ Aid, receiving a grant of US$46,000 to support:
• farmer 'soil schools', initially for 175 farmers, in biological farming principles
• demonstration fields/plots
• on-farm visits
• soil testing and use of soil kits
• tree planting and conservation awareness
These actions will be conducted in collaboration with SPC, DoA and Organic Matters
Foundation (OMF) of Australia.
To further reinforce the farmer training and technical support effort, TTT have applied to
Australian Volunteers International (AVI) for a volunteer to assist in this work. The
response has been positively received and selection of a volunteer will be undertaken in
early 2011, with a view to the person starting work in mid 2011.
Collaboration with ACIAR 'soil health' project
In parallel with the above developments in Taveuni, the Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research (ACIAR) has been developing a project, PC/2009/003 on Improving
soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific. This 'soil health' project is
led by SPC with technical support from the Queensland Department of Employment,
Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) and the University of the South Pacific
(USP), in collaboration with the Fiji DoA, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Samoa,
and the Centre of Excellence in Atoll Agriculture in Kiribati. It builds on the work of an
earlier SPC-led project on Developing Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific (DSAP),
which, using participatory methods to consult with farmers and other stakeholders,
identified soil-related problems as a priority for Pacific island communities in numerous
locations; the project also initiated trials of appropriate technologies, including the use of
Mucuna and agroforestry techniques, to address these problems.
A scoping study and consultations conducted during 2010 led the new ACIAR-funded
project to focus on intensive taro production in Fiji and Samoa as a 'system in crisis' for
further attention. As set out in earlier sections of the present document, the soil health
project will take an integrated approach to research and development in this area. This will
involve taking into account the physical, chemical and biological dimensions of the soil
health concept and developing 'indicators' that will help researchers, extension workers
and farmers, to diagnose soil health-related problems and the progress they are making in
tackling these problems; it includes the trialling, with farmers, of strategies to improve soil
health in intensified production systems; and the extension to farmers of soil health
concepts and practices.
The ACIAR soil health project will use experience of promoting soil health concepts in
banana production systems in Queensland as a platform for R&D to tackle problems in
intensified taro production (Fiji and Samoa) and vegetables (Kiribati).
The ACIAR soil health project thus has objectives and approaches that are closely aligned
with those of the TTT initiatives, in association with SPC and DoA, and representatives of
TTT have been involved, together with these partners, in planning for the ACIAR-funded
project. What the ACIAR project offers the Teveuni group is a partnership with world-class
field- and laboratory-based researchers who have had long experience of addressing soil
health problems in intensive agricultural systems, in the context of ecologically sensitive
environments; they bring with them a range of techniques, technologies and experience in
both practical soil amelioration techniques and experimental design to validate these

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techniques under local conditions. Access to this expertise will both reinforce the existing
efforts of the Taveuni group and offer new ideas and options, for soil fertility improvement
and the means to monitor it. A special strength of the soil health project is the experience
of the DEEDI project team in the extension of soil concepts and practices to farmers;
these will synergise with the training efforts already under way with UNDP support and
foreseen for the AVI. Indeed, the soil schools and on-farm training to be conducted by the
AVI will provide an immediate testing ground for the training materials and approaches
generated by the project - and immediate feedback for their further improvement.
AusAID complementary support: a decisive contribution
The project partners developing the ACIAR soil health project have identified the over-
arching need to increase soil organic matter content as the first priority in restoring the
fertility, physical structure and biological function of soils. While many strategies can
contribute to this objective - including the use of compost, leaf litter from agroforestry trees
and green manure cover crops (such as Mucuna), which are already being trialled in the
cluster of projects proposed or under way - the challenge of finding sufficient organic
matter to make a significant difference can be an overwhelming one in tropical island
environments. Although primary biological productivity is typically high under humid
tropical conditions, the rate of breakdown of organic matter in moist tropical soils can also
be very rapid. Add to this the consideration that primary productivity will be lowest on the
infertile soils that are most in need of amelioration, and the high cost (in labour and/or
fuel) of transporting organic matter from more abundant sources to the fields where it is
needed, and it is easy to see why farmers find this challenge a very difficult one to tackle.
The provision of supplementary AusAID funds in the start-up phase of the soil health
project will decisively increase the effectiveness of the project in two ways:
1) by providing access to the abundant organic matter locked up in the trunks and fronds
of senile coconut trees, which can be converted (using the equipment provided by the
AusAID grant) into 'cocopeat' or 'biochar'; and
2) by reinforcing the extension work of the AVI and collaborating extension workers,
through the provision of a 4WD vehicle, training materials, audiovisual equipment,
additional soil testing and coordination with other research-and-training activities.
Items covered by the AusAID grant are tabulated below.
Note that the research and extension activities supported by the grant are entirely
integrated into the R&D proposal to which this forms an Annex, in terms of technical
justification, planning, review (according to established ACIAR procedures), coordinated
implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

Specifically the AusAID grant covers the following items:

Item Amount Aus$
Planning and coordination workshop (hosted by SPC) to develop 13,500
training materials and training strategy
4 WD vehicle and accessories (for use of AVI and extension 45,000
collaborators)
Fuel costs for vehicle and machinery (first year only - thereafter 5,000
covered by ACIAR funds)
Soil testing and shipping of samples to Sunshine Coast University (first 8,000
year only - subsequently covered by ACIAR funds)
Stereo dissecting microscope and teaching/filming attachments 4,500
Lap-top computer and small transportable generator 4,000
Powerpoint projector - robust model for field extension use 3,000
Preparation and printing of training materials 12,000
Costs of establishing TTT field trials of soil carbon amendments 2,000
(subsequent maintenance of trials covered by ACIAR funds)
ACIAR management fee (5%) 5,000
First payment 102,000
Horizontal wood chipper/grinder (to produce cocopeat from senile 60,000
palms and other organic residues - e.g. from agroforestry trees)
BigChar 1000 biochar unit (including installation and initial instruction; 70,000
to produce long-lasting soil carbon from palm and other residues)
Tractor with front-end loader (for handling organic matter) 25,000
ACIAR management fee (5%) 8,000
Second payment 163,000
TOTAL 265,000

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Project proposal: Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific

9 Appendix D: Supporting documentation

This section is only required for FULL PROPOSAL
Documents attached:
• Letters of support
• Letters of approval
• Curricula vitae

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