Award-winning chef and founder of the Pacific Islands Food Revolution (PIFR), Robert Oliver, has called for Pacific nations to embrace and localize their food systems to build healthier futures, support climate resilience, and strengthen food sovereignty.
Speaking at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Kukum Campus Lecture Theatre on Tuesday, Oliver emphasized that “local food should be the norm”—anchored in ancestral knowledge, cultural pride, and community-driven change.
In his presentation, Oliver outlined the concept of food sovereignty, which he defined as communities having control over their own food and production systems.
He said this vision should extend across sectors such as education, prisons, and universities, envisioning a future where Pacific food traditions are central to everyday life.
“The ultimate goal is to make local food the norm by reinforcing ancestral knowledge and creating a sense of cultural pride,” he said.
Oliver praised the growing role of young people and social media influencers in promoting local recipes and traditional cuisines.
“I just see a change happening on social media where there’s a lot more influencers and people talking about local recipes, and it’s really grown in the last five years since COVID-19,” he said.
“I see great hope. Young people are getting the bigger picture—it’s not about being global, it’s about being local.”
He further noted that individual food choices are a powerful and democratic tool for change—comparable to the youth-led climate movement—and that communities do not need to wait for government policies to act.
“We don’t need policies or government frameworks or complex development strategies to change. Everyone can do their own thing,” he said.
“It’s also like the climate movement where young people can step up and say, ‘We can do this.’”
Oliver encouraged young people to use social media as a platform to share local food stories and inspire action in their communities.
“I would say to young people to start doing their own social media to begin and start getting the conversation going,” he added.
PIFR, founded by Oliver, is an innovative program promoting local and healthier foods to combat the region’s rising non-communicable disease (NCD) crisis through communications, storytelling, and partnerships.
The initiative has produced popular TV shows, cookbooks, and educational programs showcasing food stories from across the Pacific.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
