SPC to host first international symposium on breadfruit in Fiji next week

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) will host a first ever International Symposium on Breadfruit Research and Development in Nadi, Fiji next week from April 16-19.

The Breadfruit Symposium will review progress in breadfruit research, analyze needs and priorities, develop strategies for the conservation of breadfruit genetic resources, prioritize needed work in breadfruit research and development, particularly post-harvest handling and food product development, and explore new ways to use genetic diversity and improve breadfruit production. It will also stimulate international collaboration, information exchange and networking.

The symposium aims to increase awareness of the importance of breadfruit in the food systems of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) region and to open up opportunities for greater use of breadfruit diversity through sharing information and establishing research and development priorities.

The objectives are:
- To review the status of breadfruit research in the ACP region, and prioritize future research and development;

- To develop strategies for post-harvest handling and to enhance food product development, processing and marketing of breadfruit;

- To promote the sustainable conservation and use of breadfruit genetic resources; and

- To stimulate international collaboration, information exchange and networking on breadfruit research and development.