Delegates at a summit on food security held in Vanuatu this week have agreed that strengthening food control systems is integral to curbing the region's high rates of chronic diseases.
Professor Glen Maberley of the Global Health Institute says the summit's concluded by deciding that food security in the Pacific means a supply that's both sufficient and healthy.
The summit finished today with the drafting of a regional framework aimed to boost local agricultural initiatives, ensure basic commodities such as rice are fortified and regulate fatty canned meats.
He says delegates have decided to include food security in the Pacific Plan, which will be discussed when the Pacific Islands Forum meets in Port Vila in August.
"You have obesity running at the highest levels in the world, diabetes running at the highest levels in the world and all the chronic diseases...by putting in place food control systems and then putting regulation there will be over a period of time a gradual improving and limiting the dumping of what is now considered very poor quality food into the Pacific."
The Global health Institute's Professor Glen Maberley.
