Supporting Women’s Participation in Developing A Seaweed Supply Chain in Kiribati for Health and Nutrition

Elizabeth Swanepoel; Tereere Tioti; Taati Eria; Karibanang Tamuera; Ulusapeti Tiitii; Silva Larson; Nicholas A Paul

doi:10.3390/foods9040382

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Supporting Women’s Participation in Developing A Seaweed Supply Chain in Kiribati for Health and Nutrition

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Supporting Women’s Participation in Developing A Seaweed Supply Chain in Kiribati for Health and Nutrition

Elizabeth Swanepoel, Tereere Tioti, Taati Eria, Karibanang Tamuera, Ulusapeti Tiitii, Silva Larson and Nicholas A Paul

Foods, Vol.9(4), 382

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9040382

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Abstract

seaweed

Kappaphycus

Caulerpa

Acanthophora

carrageenan

sea grapes

peer-led training

sustainable diets

Pacific

SDGs

Abstract: Seaweeds are a source of food throughout the Pacific region. Kiribati, however, does not have a strong history of using seaweed in their diets, despite having reliable access to indigenous edible seaweeds. A series of peer-led seaweed training workshops held in Kiribati between 2018 and 2019 provided women with knowledge, skills, and motivational support needed to engage in the seaweed supply chain, from harvesting, processing, and marketing to consumption. This study aimed to identify opportunities and enablers to support women's participation across the seaweed supply chain. Structured interviews with 49 women explored their interest and expected costs and benefits from involvement in the supply chain. There was high interest in most seaweed-related activities and the key motivators were health and nutrition for themselves and their family. Participants were also interested in developing and sharing new skills and saw the potential for income generation. However, there were also clear barriers including a desire for further training in seaweed harvesting, processing, and recipe creation; additional social support; and in public promotion. Given the natural resources and desire of women to engage in developing this new edible seaweed supply chain in Kiribati, there is now a need for capacity development to build social and economic wellbeing and food security across the broader community. Additional peer-to-peer training opportunities may look to other Pacific Islands where seaweed is already an established and traditional food.

Details

Title: Supporting Women’s Participation in Developing A Seaweed Supply Chain in Kiribati for Health and Nutrition
Authors: Elizabeth Swanepoel (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Health and Sport Sciences
Tereere Tioti (Author) - Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development, Kiribati
Taati Eria (Author) - Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development, Kiribati
Karibanang Tamuera (Author) - Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development, Kiribati
Ulusapeti Tiitii (Author) - Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Samoa
Silva Larson (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Science and Engineering
Nicholas A Paul (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Science and Engineering
Publication details: Foods, Vol.9(4), 382; 13
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2020
DOI: 10.3390/foods9040382
ISSN: 2304-8158; 2304-8158
Copyright note: Copyright © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450813302621
Output Type: Journal article
Research Statement: false