Pacific Livelihoods Research Group

Curtin’s Pacific Livelihoods research features at PNG Food and Nutrition Conference 2026

Research from Curtin’s Pacific Livelihoods Research Group featured prominently in the recent Papua New Guinea Food and Nutrition Conference 2026 held at PNG’s University of Technology in Lae, 1-3 July 2026.

The conference brought together international and PNG researchers from across the PNG agricultural sector, to explore the theme of transforming food systems for nutrition and resilience. Presentations spanned food security and nutrition; climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience; food systems and market networks; village food production; crop innovations; El Niño preparedness; training and extension; and agricultural policy.

Linda Bina, George Curry, Esley Peter and Gina Koczberski

Curtin’s long-standing contribution to, and leadership within, agricultural research and research capacity building in PNG was acknowledged in the conference opening keynote and by several prominent speakers during the conference. Curtin researchers, George Curry and Gina Koczberski, also delivered an invited keynote address examining the socio-cultural factors shaping innovation adoption amongst smallholder farmers.

Veronica Bue

Pacific Livelihoods researchers, alumni, students and affiliated researchers were also strongly represented throughout the conference program. Pacific Livelihoods’ contribution included presentations by Curtin researchers George Curry, Gina Koczberski and Tim Sharp; four Curtin alumni — Veronica Bue, Alois Ndrewou, Reuben Sengere and Esley Peter; and two current students, Linda Bina and Vincianna Andrew. A further four presentations drew on research from Curtin-led projects, presented by Steven Nake, Emma Kiup, Pennuel Togonave and Raylin Gena. Many presentations emerged from large collaborative projects with PNG partners, including the PNG Oil Palm Research Association, Coffee Industry Corporation, Cocoa Board and the PNG University of Technology and include co-authors from these organisations.

The research presented emerged from five ACIAR-funded projects (ASEM/2016/100;  ASEM/2014/054; ASEM/2008/036; ASEM/2012/072; CLIM/2024/101) and four student research projects (Alois Ndrewou, Raylin Gena, Veronica Bue and Vincianna Andrew).

The presentations associated with Curtin researchers, students, alumni and collaborators are listed below. An asterisk indicates the presenting author:

How do sociocultural factors interact with technology adoption and social innovation to affect productivity of smallholder agriculture? *Professor George Curry and Dr Gina Koczberski. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyAqPkXZ5r8 0:26:00.

Household adaptive capacity and food production among smallholder farmers. *Gina Koczberski, George N. Curry, Esley Peter, Veronica Bue, Steven Nake and Robert Nailina.

Social and institutional innovation in agricultural intensification among oil palm settlers, West New Britain. *Steven Nake, George N. Curry, Gina Koczberski, Emmanuel Germis, Veronica Bue, Geraldine Tilden, Merolyn Koia, Linus Pileng and Sean Ryan.

Unrecognized food sources in smallholder coffee farms in the highlands. *P. Togonave, B. Apis, E. Kiup, M. Webb, M. Bafeo, J. Aranka and J. Pakatul.

Beyond coffee: Women, commercial food production and emerging market networks in the highland. *Reuben Sengere, George Curry, Gina Koczberski and Tim Sharp

Intensification of land use for food production in oil palm blocks, West New Britain. *Veronica Bue, George Curry and Gina Koczberski. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyAqPkXZ5r8 2:14:00.

Entrepreneurship and precarity: growth of women’s small-scale reselling in urban marketplaces. *Timothy Sharp

Savings, credit and agricultural investment: a livelihood approach to agricultural extension. *Linda Bina, Tim Sharp and Gina Koczberski

Garden food production and vulnerability among cocoa farmers. *Esley Peter, Gina Koczberski, George Curry and Robert Nailina. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiyMrzmkP5I

Adoption of coffee-vegetable intercropping by farmers in the Eastern Highlands Province. *Emma Kiup, Michael Webb, Pennuel Togonave, Bartholomew Apis and Johannes Pakatul

Strategies to maintain food security in response to a livelihood shock: the case of migrants in Dagua, East Sepik Province. *Alois Ndrewou. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpd7om2MElk 2:05:00

Coffee and food crop agroforestry systems as adaptation to climate change. *Vincianna Andrew, Timothy Sharp and George Curry

The role of female resellers in shaping food security and informal market system in Lae. *Raylin Gena and Veronica Bue

Recordings of some of the conference presentations can be found here:

Alois Ndrewou
Esley Peter (Image: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiyMrzmkP5I)

 

 

Alois Ndrewou