Page 39 - IB August 2021

The Future of Green Entrepreneurship in the Pacific Agriculture

August 21 was World Entrepreneurs’ Day, a day to celebrate in- 3. Entrepreneurship can be a lonely path - being connected to
st
novation and empowerment of entrepreneurship and leadership networks can build confidence and forge durable roads BREWING A STORM
to acknowledge entrepreneurs’ achievements and contributions Entrepreneurs can benefit greatly from being connected to sup-
towards job creation and economic growth. In these turbulent portive mentors and coaches who have done it before, and peers By Netani Rika
times, there is increasing recognition of just how vital it is to sup- who are walking beside you. Resonating with the Pacific way,
port small businesses to adapt, survive and thrive. having a family of entrepreneurs to believe in, support, guide and There’s a storm brewing over the Pacific as the region’s
At the recent virtual launch of the Pacific Green Entrepreneurs listen can make a world of difference. Many such networks exist kava industry watches a gradually unfolding situation in the
Network (PGEN), a regional program implemented by the Glob- already and can be strengthened further. North Queensland city of Bundaberg.
al Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and funded by the Qatar Fund 4. Confidence and creativity are key to successful green entre- Known more for its sugar cane and famous rum, the city has
for Development (QFFD), a talanoa session on the topic “What is preneurship found itself at the centre of a storm which may be more than
the future of green entrepreneurship in the Pacific?” was held True entrepreneurs don’t just replicate existing businesses, they a tempest in a kava bowl. Photo: PHAMA Plus
featuring inspiring entrepreneurs and business support organiza- see problems and identify creative ways to solve them. Entrepre- Bundaberg’s Mayor, Jack Dempsey, recently apologised to
tions from five Pacific Island Countries. neurs, particularly green enterprises testing new and innovative the descendants of 62,000 South Sea Islanders taken from Vanuatu’s Opposition Leader, Ralph Regenvanu, was more

ideas, need to have passion and confidence to follow through to Vanuatu and other Pacific islands to provide labour for cane direct . “I wish to say to Australia, our friend, don’t grow
bring their ideas to life, to adapt to the evolving challenges they farms in the 1800s. Slave traders, known as ‘Blackbirders’, kava,” MP Regenvanu told his country’s media.
face and identify and grasp the opportunities therein. would entrap or entice islanders to work on the vast planta- “Do not allow kava to grow in Australia commercially, make
At the launch event, Keynote Speaker, Pacific Islands Devel- tions under terrible conditions. it illegal but make it legal for us to export Vanuatu kava to
opment Forum (PIDF) Secretary General, Ambassador Solo Mara As part of the apology, Bundaberg signed a “Sister City” you. That is the request of Vanuatu and other Pacific coun-
stated that “PGEN is an important pathway for women’s economic agreement with Luganville in Vanuatu. tries.’’
empowerment, because entrepreneurship has a multiplier effect Dempsey said the partnership was designed to promote Pacific kava exporters and growers are aware of the growing
on family well-being, poverty reduction and sustainable economic cultural and commercial ties. “We’ll look at all areas from market in the United States, and this has sparked interest
growth.” agriculture to tourism to safety … from a council perspective even in the Solomon Islands where the crop is grown but not
GGGI’s Country Representative for Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga and Va- looking at their water and sewerage and so forth,” he told sold to the extent that it is in Fiji and Vanuatu.
On South Guadalcanal, kava production has increased by
ABC news.
nuatu, Daniel Muñoz-Smith and moderator of the talanoa session
Green entrepreneurship refers to business enterprises that are Vanuatu’s agriculture industry revolves mainly around cof- 52% from 48,061 plants in 2018 to 101,165 in 2021. With the
focused on building a better future for their communities and the said, “The talanoa discussion has been an excellent opportunity fee, premium beef exports and kava. At some stage in discus- perceived threat of Australia joining – and even industrialis-
to exchange knowledge and begin the dialogue that the PGEN
planet. Green entrepreneurs hold the key to unlocking a transition program aims to continue over the coming years. PGEN aims to sions and interviews, mention was made of the possibility of ing the kava industry – there are now calls to ban exports of
to a green and sustainable future for our planet, enabling current showcase Pacific solutions to Pacific problems on a national, re- kava being grown in Queensland from material made available planting material from the region.
prosperity without jeopardizing that of future generations. gional and global scale.” by Vanuatu. “There is a need for us as Pacific Islanders to protect this
The compelling talanoa session showcased well-known Pacific But Australia has had a long time ban on kava imports, plant for the Pacific region. It is our intellectual property,”
GGGI’s program plans to support green and inclusive job growth
entrepreneurs and innovators – Kenneth Katafono from TraSeable by supporting entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth, de- blaming it for causing social and health problems among Pasifika Kava Forum founder Fe’iloakitau Kaho Tevi said.
Solutions (Fiji), Vani Nades from Emstret Holdings Limited (Papua velop their green and sustainable businesses in Fiji, Kiribati, Papua members of its First Nation people. “Kava is one of those plants that is culturally linked to us
New Guinea), Marc-Antoine Morel from V-LAB (Vanuatu), Eliz- New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. The launch event also Recent promises by Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morri- and to our identity as Pacific Islanders.”
abeth Kite from Isle 676 (Tonga) and Vaitulia Alatina Ioelu from opened the call for applications for the 2021 Pacific Greenpre- son, to ease off on kava imports restrictions and allow greater Behind the scenes, Tevi’s group has been working for over
Samoa Business Hub (Samoa) – and unpacked a number of similar neurs Incubator and Mentor program. access to the Pacific product have been slow to materialise. 24 months to urge regional trade officials to list kava as a
themes across the Pacific region with lessons for all enterprises, Personal allowances for kava have been increased for visi- specific Pacific product. They also want regional diplomats
business support providers and policymakers. Both applications close on 31st August 2021. tors to Australia, but Pacific growers and traders are keen to to band together and protect market share in sectors such as
1. Many Pacific businesses are already ‘green enterprises’ with- The Pacific Greenpreneurs Incubator program will run annually export larger quantities. beverage and nutri-pharmaceuticals.
out knowing it and will offer training and mentoring for early-stage green entre- Ironically, anecdotal evidence suggests it is Australia’s liquor The very real threat is that planting material will be leaked
Many panelists expressed that “Green Entrepreneurship IS the preneurs. Successful entrepreneurs in the incubator program will lobby – ostensibly its large breweries and the Bundaberg by renegade Pacific traders, eager to create partnerships
Pacific way”. While they may not be familiar with terms such as have the opportunity to participate in a business competition to distillery – that have been instrumental in casting kava in a which allow them a foothold into a previously impregnable
‘green entrepreneurship’ or ‘social impact’, many businesses secure grant seed fund capital of USD$5,000. negative light. market.
across the Pacific already intentionally contribute to supporting The Pacific Greenpreneurs Accelerator program will be launched So, when the kava industry caught a whiff of the sugges- In a private conversation last week, one kava advocate
the needs of their communities and land, either through their in 2022 and will target high growth potential green enterprises, tion that the region’s plant would be cultivated in tropical wrote to colleagues: “I have no doubt that there would be
business operations or investing profits back into their commu- offering repayable grants of up to USD$50,000, investor linkages, Queensland, there was an immediate reaction. lines of islanders willing to sell kava cuttings for $100 if given
nities and hence creating positive impact on communities and training and mentorship. Most of the discussions have been private or informal, the opportunity.
environment. For up-to-date information on the PGEN program, Incubator, generated by industry players, advocates, and experts. In Fiji “When (Pacific) people earn very little and the consumer
2. Pacific entrepreneurs need access to opportunities and in- Mentor and Accelerator programs and launch event visit www. – where kava exports can rake in as much as $FJD10 million world promises them happiness through materialism, it’s easy
per annum – there is concern that Australian plantations of
to take advantage of them and the Western World has known
formation, both at the early stage and beyond pacificgreenpreneurs.com and subscribe to PGEN’s mailing list. the product will have enormous negative impact. this for some time.’’
The panel shared similar challenges in each of the five countries
“Our farmers are already suffering from the downturn
With Pacific eyes focussed on Bundaberg, time will tell
represented including accessing resources - particularly funding caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” a kava processor said, whether the city has learned from its uncomfortable past in
to grow and accessing government support and information on
business requirements. Knowing where to go to get help is cur- speaking on condition of anonymity. “Normally I’d be up-front using cheap Pacific labour. Or will it now create a new history
rently informal and can be hard to access for new entrepreneurs. about this, but we’re trying to break into the Australian mar- in which the Pacific is exploited again?
Women and youth in particular face greater barriers to accessing ket, and I don’t want to be victimised.
funding, training opportunities and having the confidence, cour- “We need to protect the kava plant. We need to own it as editor@islandsbusiness.com
age and support to pursue their dreams. intellectual property.’’

Islands Business, August 2021 39