This year, Hampus Eriksson, Principal Scientist at WorldFish, and Edgar Pollard, Director of the Centre for Island Futures at Solomon Islands National University, represented the CGIAR Food Frontiers and Security program at the Global Sustainable Island Summit (GSIS) 2026, held from 20-22 April in Gran Canaria, Spain.The GSIS 2026 summit brought together cutting-edge solutions, inspiring stories, and actionable strategies for creating more resilient island communities, helping to bring island food systems into wider development conversations.

"It's been a validating island summit for us because global island stakeholders wanted research from our program to be made visible and integrated into broader island-development priorities," reflects Hampus Eriksson. "We now look forward to expanding our partnership constellations globally to meet these requests."

Our delegation integrated food system research and priorities in a summit largely focused on other island development challenges.

"We made several new connections in areas outside of our usual domains, particularly with entrepreneurs and innovators, which our island food system partnership platform hopes to incorporate into forthcoming island masterclasses and island fellowship program in the Solomon Islands," states Edgar Pollard.

The island food system delegation will integrate these experiences and reflections into forthcoming publications on scaling and impact in island food systems.

Beyond the global engagement at GSIS 2026, the CGIAR Food Frontiers and Security program continues to strengthen long-term partnerships and practical innovation across the Pacific. In the Solomon Islands, WorldFish and Solomon Islands National University have formalized a five-year collaboration strategy on island food systems, while the Ministry of Fisheries has integrated CGIAR-developed tools into its 2026-2031 Provincial Fisheries Division Development Strategy.

The Nusatupe Innovation Hub continues to expand its role as a flagship site for learning, demonstration, and community-led innovation. The hub supports seaweed farming training, organic farming workshops, and youth-focused internship programs, providing a practical model for strengthening island food systems through locally driven action. A new partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC) Land Resources Division has further integrated CGIAR programming into Pacific genetic resources management, with capacity development activities conducted in Lima and Fiji to strengthen Pacific engagement in global plant genetic resources leadership.

In addition, a novel island food system analytics interface has been developed in collaboration with the Pacific Community and the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS). This tool generates regional insights on food production, trade, and climate indicators, supporting evidence-based decision-making for island food system transformation.

Across both global and regional platforms, the CGIAR Food Frontiers and Security program continues to advance resilient, inclusive, and climate-responsive island food systems. From strengthening global partnerships at GSIS 2026 to scaling practical innovation in the Pacific, the program is building bridges between research, policy, and action.

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