Landcare and inclusive agriculture: achieving socio-ecological balance to shape our future.
Landcare is a community-based approach to sustainable agriculture and natural resource management. It is grounded in collective action, local leadership and practical solutions to land and water challenges. The approach originated in Australia in the 1980s and has since grown into a national program with strong government and community support. Internationally, Landcare has spread through partnerships and locally adapted models, reflecting its alignment with community values and existing agricultural systems.
LIFE (Livelihood Improvement through Facilitated Extension) builds on Landcare principles, with a specific focus on agricultural extension. Developed through ACIAR-supported research in the Philippines, it demonstrates how facilitated, community-based extension can strengthen farmer capability and improve livelihoods. While the conference draws on Landcare and LIFE, it also welcomes insights from other participatory, community-led and extension approaches from across the Indo-Pacific and globally.
This conference is supported through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) funded project “Landcare: an agricultural extension and community development model at district and national scale in Fiji.
The project is led by RMIT University from Australia and delivered in partnership with:
The project focuses on strengthening agricultural extension systems, supporting farmer engagement and applying Landcare and LIFE approaches in the Fijian context.
Magimagi (pronounced muh-ng-ee muh-ng-ee) is a traditional Fijian binding cord handcrafted from braided coconut husk fibers. Historically used to secure massive architectural structures without a single nail, it represents the pinnacle of Indigenous engineering and circular design.
Just as these individual fibers are woven to create an unbreakable bond, this conference serves as our “National Magimagi”—bringing together the diverse hands and voices of the Indo-Pacific to secure the future of our land and soil. Just as the strength of Magimagi comes from the intentional braiding of three distinct fibers, our program is built upon Three Interconnected Strands. Together, they create a resilient framework for sustainable agriculture and community prosperity
| Event | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Conference Training | July 6–7 | Training – by invitation |
| Conference | July 8–9 | Sessions & field visits |
| Field trips | July 10 | Field visits to project sites |
The strength of our “National Magimagi” depends on the participation of global partners, local farmers, and innovative leaders like you. Whether you are contributing to the Heart of social systems, the Root of environmental health, or the Anchor of market resilience, your voice is a vital strand in this collective effort. Join us this July to help bind these systems together for a sustainable Indo-Pacific.
July 2026 | Nadi, Fiji Islands
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