BREADFRUIT IN THE PACIFIC REGION

This paper provides an overview of breadfruit in the Pacific region. Covered are cultivation and uses, importance as a food security crop research and development, diversity and conservation and regional approaches to conserving and utilizing breadfruit. Although commonalities exist between many of the countries in this vast region, there are also distinct differences due largely to country size, infrastructure and remoteness of location. Development of breadfruit as a crop in the Pacific highlights these differences. In some countries breadfruit is a major staple and a key food security crop, whereas in others, there is a significant potential for trade. The role of breadfruit as a trade product is relatively recent and so the constraints experienced in the product development area are, to a large extent, the result of the food security status and backyard nature of breadfruit and of limited research and development on this underutilised crop.