By R. Bourdeix, 2025. Draft list to be improved.
- 2023-2026. Safe Agricultural Trade Facilitation through Economic integration in the Pacific (SAFE Pacific). Funded by European Union for a total of EUR 517,500 for POETCom activities (part of larger EUR 4 million programme). Implemented by: SPC Land Resources Division. With partners: Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Satuala Development, Sunshine Pacific, POETCom, MSMEs in 15 Pacific countries. EU-funded programme strengthening access to market certifications (organic, sustainable, environmental) for coconut and other agricultural value chains (coffee, kava, turmeric). Provides capacity building, training and technical assistance to Pacific MSMEs including Samoan coconut businesses for compliance with international standards, improved access to local and export markets, and sustainable production practices. https://www.spc.int/updates/news/2024/01/spc-signs-eu-grant-agreements-with-pacific-micro-small-medium-enterprises
- 2020-2024. Safeguarding threatened coconut diversity within the upgraded ICG-SP. Funded by Crop Trust, Bioversity International, ACIAR for a total of EUR 163,000 equivalent to USD 0.18 million. Implemented by: SPC (Pacific Community). With partners: Government of Samoa, PNG Government, Government of Fiji, COGENT/ICC network. Follow-up project building on Darwin Initiative to continue relocation and upgrades of International Coconut Genebank for South Pacific with backup duplication in Samoa. Samoa identified priority target coconut varieties from existing stocks for ex-situ conservation and participated in establishing foundation for participatory in-situ conservation of important ecotypes by coconut farming communities, safeguarding key coconut biodiversity for food security. https://www.fao.org/food-systems/resources/resources-details/en/c/1496838/
- 2019-2024. Safeguarding and deploying coconut diversity for improving livelihoods in Pacific Islands (C4L). Funded by ACIAR for a total of AUD 2,003,117 equivalent to USD 1.32 million. Implemented by: SPC (Pacific Community). With partners: Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, University of the South Pacific, Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, University of Queensland. ACIAR project (HORT/2017/025) supporting rejuvenation of coconut-based livelihoods across Pacific including Samoa by strengthening conservation and utilization of coconut diversity, addressing biotic threats (coconut rhinoceros beetle, diseases), establishing coordinated R&D platforms. Activities included coconut germplasm collection, genotyping studies, embryo culture and cryopreservation training at SPC-CePaCT, and participatory selection of priority cultivars by Samoan farming communities. https://www.aciar.gov.au/project/hort-2017-025
- 2019-2022. Samoa AgriBusiness Support (SABS) Project. Funded by Asian Development Bank for a total of Not specified. Implemented by: Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. With partners: ADB, coconut enterprises including Taualagi Ulimasao's Enterprises (dried copra, de-husked coconuts), provincial authorities in Upolu and Savai'i. ADB-funded project providing financial and business support to agribusiness ventures including coconut enterprises in both Upolu and Savai'i. Supported dried copra production, de-husked coconut processing for local markets, and provided infrastructure investments including packing house facilities in Savai'i to expand coconut processing capacity and market access. https://www.adb.org/projects/52182-001/main
- 2019-2023. Building a business case for investment in a coconut veneer industry. Funded by ACIAR for a total of Part of FST/2019/128 project budget (exact Samoa component not specified). Implemented by: University of Queensland and Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. With partners: SPC, Fiji Ministry of Forestry, Samoa forestry authorities, private sector timber companies. ACIAR project developing technologies and business models to transform senile coconut palms (estimated 120,000 hectares across Pacific including substantial area in Samoa equivalent to Upolu island size) into high-value cocoveneer engineered wood products. Research included decision-support tools, financial viability assessments, and market-based approaches to incentivize senile coconut replacement while creating value from old palms. https://www.aciar.gov.au/project/fst-2019-128
- 2016-2019. Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Coconut and Cocoa Revitalization Project. Funded by Enhanced Integrated Framework for a total of Not specified. Implemented by: Women in Business Development Incorporated (WIBDI), Samoa Trust Estates Corporation (STEC), Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS). With partners: WIBDI, STEC, SROS, Samoa Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, The Body Shop, C1Espresso. Project revitalizing Samoa's coconut and cocoa export sectors through replanting schemes (10,080 coconut trees and 20,240 cocoa trees on 300 acres STEC land), construction of centralized production warehouses for WIBDI virgin coconut oil and STEC cocoa processing, improved plantation logistics. WIBDI achieved 48% sales increase in 2018 and 50%+ in 2019, creating over 23,000 jobs, earning farmers nearly USD 230,000 annually, and securing export partnerships with The Body Shop UK and C1Espresso for fair-trade organic coconut oil. https://trade4devnews.enhancedif.org/en/news/taking-reins-drive-sustainable-trade-agenda-samoa
- 2016-2018. Coconut Industry Development for the Pacific (CIDP) - Samoa Pilot Projects. Funded by European Union for a total of EUR 4 million total programme (EUR 1.75 million for pilot projects across Pacific). Implemented by: SPC Land Resources Division. With partners: Mailelani Samoa Body Care, Samoa Coconut Cluster (SCC), Serendi Coco Samoa Ltd, Women in Business Development (WIBDI), Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Regional initiative to improve competitiveness of Pacific coconut industry through pilot projects in Samoa and Vanuatu. Four Samoan enterprises (Mailelani, SCC, Serendi Coco, WIBDI) received technical assistance and equipment to enhance coconut value chain competitiveness, particularly for virgin coconut oil and organic products. Included training programmes and Coconut Risks Management and Mitigation manual development. https://www.spc.int/updates/news/2016/10/new-coconut-project-aims-to-boost-pacific-coconut-industry
- 2016-2019. Darwin Initiative - Upgrading and broadening the new South-Pacific International Coconut Genebank. Funded by UK Government (Darwin Initiative) for a total of GBP 317,884 equivalent to USD 0.41 million. Implemented by: Bioversity International (COGENT Programme coordinator). With partners: Government of Samoa, PNG Government (KIK), Government of Fiji, CIRAD, SPC, APCC, ICC, Global Crop Diversity Trust, ITPGRFA. Established backup duplication site in Samoa for International Coconut Genebank for the South Pacific (ICG-SP) threatened by Bogia Coconut Syndrome in PNG. Project included germplasm collection missions in Samoa to identify priority cultivars most threatened by habitat loss, technical workshops, capacity building for coconut conservation staff, and integration of new accessions into Coconut Genetic Resources Database, safeguarding critical coconut biodiversity for future breeding and livelihoods. https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/project/23009/
- 2015-ongoing. Serendi Coco Samoa Dynamic Agroforestry and Fair Trade Project. Funded by Dr. Bronner's (USA) for a total of Not specified. Implemented by: Serendi Coco Samoa (joint venture between Pacific Oil and Dr. Bronner's). With partners: Dr. Bronner's, Pacific Oil, Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, over 1,000 certified organic coconut farmers. Fair Trade and regenerative organic agriculture project revitalizing over 600 hectares of aging coconut plantations through Dynamic Agroforestry integrating coconuts, cocoa, fruit, timber trees, taro, ginger and turmeric. Produces organic and fair-trade coconut oil and by-products (copra meal, coconut shell charcoal). Development Fund provides community benefits including tools (830 wheelbarrows, 830 machetes distributed to farmers), infrastructure, healthcare and education, benefiting over 1,000 certified organic farmers in Upolu and Savai'i. https://ecotop.org/news/revitalizing-samoas-coconut-lands-with-dynamic-agroforestry/
- 2015-ongoing. Samoa Coconut Cluster (SCC) Fair Value Chain Model. Funded by Private investment and CIDP support for a total of Not specified. Implemented by: Samoa Coconut Cluster (SCC). With partners: Over 1,000 certified organic coconut farmers (56,000 acres), Serendi Coco Samoa Ltd, WIBDI, Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Disruptive fair-value chain model prioritizing farmer welfare, initially offering 30 cents per coconut (versus 12-13 cents traditional rate) and returning 30% of profits from all by-products to farmers. Combined operations with Serendi Coco Samoa covering over 1,000 farmers across 56,000 acres of certified organic coconuts. Project addresses exploitation of farmers in traditional copra/coconut oil models through transparent pricing and profit-sharing arrangements. https://spccfpstore1.blob.core.windows.net/digitallibrary-docs/files/fd/fd47bba00c3d7e43d9e9e63f44da165e.pdf
- 2012-ongoing. Samoa Government Coconut Replanting Scheme. Funded by Government of Samoa for a total of Not specified. Implemented by: Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. With partners: Provincial agricultural extension services, Samoa Trust Estates Corporation, farmer cooperatives. Long-term national programme addressing aging coconut plantations (approximately 37% senile trees across 20,153 hectares). Implemented through two Stimulus Package Programs, Intercropping and Livestock Integration programs to rehabilitate senile trees and increase coconut production. Programme provides free improved coconut seedlings to landholders, technical extension services, and support for organic certification, targeting increase in productive coconut area and yields. https://www.maf.gov.ws/
- 2011-2018. Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) Programme - Samoa Component. Funded by Australian DFAT and New Zealand MFAT for a total of Part of AUD 34.2 million multi-country programme. Implemented by: SPC and Samoa national agricultural agencies. With partners: Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, coconut enterprises, farmer organizations, private sector. First phase of Pacific-wide programme providing practical assistance to public and private sectors to increase horticultural and agricultural exports including coconut products. Supported quality improvement, market access facilitation, and compliance with international standards for Samoan coconut exporters, contributing to positive impact on 140,000+ Pacific people and creation of 5,600 jobs across region. https://dfat.gov.au/aid/topics/aid-program-performance-and-evaluation/Pages/pacific-horticultural-and-agricultural-market-access-program-phama.aspx
