Global Regenerative

Agritourism Symposium

VANUATU

JUNE 10TH - 14TH 2024

Global Regenerative Agritourism Symposium: Supporting and Promoting Regenerative Living, Regenerating Vanua and Respecting Tanungwe (Mana)

Regenerative Vanua is hosting a five-day Symposium, commencing June 10th in Vanuatu. The Symposium will be divided into 2 parts with Part 1 being limited to an environmental and social carrying capacity of 50 people. Part 2 will have a carrying capacity of 150 international and regional guests and people and will be opened up to the general public.

PART 1

10th & 11th MOTALAVA, Torba Province

Regenerative Agritourism and Food Tourism Experiences

12th MAEWO, Penama Province

Regenerative Agritourism Experiences

PART 2

13th SANTO, Sanma Province - STAKEHOLDER OPEN FORUM:

Building the Regenerative Agritourism Movement

14th SANTO, Sanma Province - STAKEHOLDER OPEN FORUM:

A Financial and Operational Framework for Regenerative Agritourism in the Pacific

Please note: The Expression of Interest for PART 1 has now closed as we received an overwhelming number of participants to attend and were limited to 50 places. If you have not received a confirmation email that you have been accepted to attend, please do now fill out the registration form.

Registration for Part 2 is now open, you can find the link below for the registration form.

About the Global Regenerative Agritourism Symposium

The Global Regenerative Agritourism Symposium has been designed to further build a new development paradigm that supports and promotes regenerative living, regenerating vanua, and respecting Tanungwe (Mana). The Symposium seeks to bring people from all over the globe that are doing their bit to build the regenerative movement to connect on a deeper level while being hosted by our vanua’s (Indigenous communities).

This is not the typical symposium, conference, workshop etc, that you may be used to in the research and development space. Please leave all expectations behind and be open to being hosted and led by Vanua’s on their terms

Key things to think about: 

  • The event will contribute to regenerating hosting vanua’s with most of the registration fees remaining in each vanua

  • Many locations will be outdoors in regenerative spaces where we can be truly present

  • We are asking for a shared responsibility in co-building and co-delivering the gathering

  • When in vanua’s our storian sessions will be led by our hosting chiefs and community leaders

  • While there is a structured itinerary to enable transport to be efficient, please allow for last minute changes to the itinerary based on local knowledge 

  • There will be a possibility for each participant to provide their own offerings throughout the week, (eg. one to one coaching, art, handicrafts, Indigenous knowledge systems, biodiversity education, cooking…) however please be mindful to enable time for everyone to have their voice heard

  • There will be many times where you do not have good quality internet, see this is as a gift and enjoy little (or no) digitalisation

  • Take many moments of silence and wait patiently for people to respond, do not talk over or interrupt anyone that is speaking

  • We have tried to make time for serendipity and contemplation

  • We are asking for an agreement of trust shared up front so we arrive with the right mindset. We are not competitors and, as there is too much to do to build the regenerative movement, everyone’s  participation and contribution is needed. 

  • We will be advocating for a shared knowledge of regenerative leadership principles

  • This week will seek to encourage ego-shedding and kindness

  • And finally, we do not know if the event will be a ‘success’ and we are okay with that. What we are aiming for is building meaningful connections and providing an opportunity for vanua’s to lead the shift in the development agenda’s 

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
Maya Angelou

The intended outcome of the Global Regenerative Agritourism Symposium is an unlearning of the harmful knowledge systems and stories that have contained us in a broken system and learning new stories or relearning Indigenous knowledge systems that will enable our people and communities to connect and flourish. 

Another outcome of the symposium will be to bring a diverse group of people together, from a range of professions, backgrounds, and places, to co-create a regenerative future. By situating this global conversation in the Pacific, we will be able to share our unique regenerative histories and Indigenous knowledge systems, but also engage in an interdisciplinary, creative and cross- dialogue between communities to inspire action and collaboration.

Each Vanua will showcase how regenerative agritourism experiences in the Pacific can protect and transfer Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and build regenerative agriculture, kava and traditional medicinal”. 

The Global Regenerative Agritourism Symposium will take place over 5 days, with invited delegates participating in regenerative knowledge exchange and practices on the islands of  Mota Lava, Maewo and Santo. 

Mota Lava Vanua will host activities and knowledge exchange based on regenerative agritourism and Indigenous food experiences, showcasing their incredible resilience and innovation. 

Maewo Vanua will host activities and knowledge exchange based on their regenerative farming practices, highlighting their custom gardens, water taro and kava gardens as well as their regenerative land management practices. 

Santo will be a place to bring this knowledge and experience together to further support the financing of regenerating vanuas through the development of a Pacific framework that supports a transition to regenerative agriculture; development of meaningful regenerative agritourism experiences; protection and showcasing of traditional medicinals;  payments for biodiversity and resilience against climate change;  and improved wellbeing and restoration of vanua’s. 

Mr Moris Kaloran, Regenerative Vanua Custom and Cultural Advisor, stated “the timing of this event is very important. We in the Pacific have a role to play in ensuring that the wellbeing of our communities is upheld as a priority, and the approach Regenerative Vanua is taking with their framework is ensuring communities are supported to build resilience together”. 

The organising committee is made up of local and international stakeholders and experts in the regenerative movement. 

 

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