SPOTLIGHT: Temarama Anguna- Kamana, incoming CPM Bureau representative for the Southwest Pacific region and One Health and Capacity Development champion

As a spotlight feature for this month, we speak to Temarama Anguna-Kamana, Head of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Cook Islands and the incoming Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) Bureau representative for the Southwest Pacific Region

Welcome Temarama! Could you start by telling us about yourself, your career, and some of the milestones you've achieved?

Thank you for inviting me to take part in this interview! My name is Temarama Anguna-Kamana, and I’m currently the Head of the Ministry of Agriculture in the Cook Islands, a role I’ve held since October 2018. I’m proud to be the first female in this position and to bring a background in human resources and business management, which is quite different from the traditional scientific and agricultural expertise in the ministry.

Before this, I spent 12 years as the Human Resources Manager at the Ministry of Health. When I joined the Ministry of Agriculture, I prioritized valuing our people and resources. We upgraded facilities, equipped staff with better tools, and created a more empowering work environment. These efforts have been recognized, and for the six years the Ministry has consistently been awarded the Public Sector Award for Excellence in Performance.

Coming from a business and HR background, what drove your interest to become involved with a very technical team that is the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)?

My journey with the IPPC started in 2019 when my Minister and I attended the 14th session of the CPM. It was my first exposure to this global organization, and I found their work fascinating. In 2022, I attended the International Plant Health Conference in London, which further opened my eyes to the work needed in our region and the importance of aligning with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) and the IPPC community’s broader goals. I realized that we needed to step up as a country and a region to maximize the benefits of working with the IPPC.

At CPM-18 you were nominated to become a CPM Bureau member, representing the Southwest Pacific region, starting in 2025. What motivated you to put your hand up for that role?

I felt it was time for the Pacific to have a stronger voice. I believe that having someone from the Pacific at the table ensures our unique challenges and perspectives are heard. For example, we face specific issues related to geographic isolation, limited resources, and climate change, which can’t always be addressed through a one-size-fits-all approach. Additionally, the FAO Director-General has expressed interest in strengthening relationships with the Pacific, and I see this as an opportunity to contribute to that goal while advocating for our region.

The FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, visited Fiji just this past November where he opened the Small Island Developing States Solutions Forum 2024. Could you elaborate on this and how it relates to your advocacy for plant health?

During the meeting in Fiji, my Minister and I had a bilateral session with the FAO Director-General and the Deputy Director-General. This was an important opportunity for us to highlight our region’s needs and priorities. One of the key points I raised was the need for the Pacific to have a seat on the FAO Council. This would ensure our unique challenges are represented at a higher level. I also advocated for increased FAO resources to support the IPPC, as its work is critical for food security and plant health globally. Lastly, I made the case for separating plant health from environmental health, emphasizing that while environmental initiatives are vital, plant health deserves its own focus.

Cook Islands and the FAO delegations during the Small Island Developing States Solutions Forum 2024 ©FAO

Indeed, the last point you made is very closely correlated to One Health, a key priority for plant health moving forwards. What role do you see plant health playing within One Health?

Whilst plant health directly impacts food security, soil health, and nutrition, which are all fundamental to human survival, it is often overshadowed by environmental and animal health. Plants are the foundation of food security and contribute to human and animal health. I’ve long advocated for plant health to be separated from environmental health and be seen as a standalone priority because, while environmental health focuses on forests and wetlands, these don’t directly address the food we consume. This distinction would give plant health the attention it deserves, ensuring it isn’t overlooked when resources and priorities are allocated. Without healthy plants and soil, we cannot grow food.

I believe that One Health is a key priority that I look to champion both within the region and at a global level. Within the Pacific region, I take part in a number of working groups where One Health is a priority. I am the Chairperson of the Pacific Heads of Veterinary and Animal Production Services (PHOVAPS) and also a member of the Pacific Heads of Agriculture and Forestry. In 2024 I also attended an Environment meeting to develop the Pacific Action Plan for Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agricultural sectors including Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture for Food and Agriculture (2024-2030) where the Strategic Priority Areas and Priorities needed to be more closely linked to One Health. Globally, I very much welcome the recent creation of the CPM Focus Group on Plant Health in the context of One Health. To further advocate for One Health, I answered the call for experts to join this Focus Group as I see the work to be undertaken as impacting directly the challenges we face in plant health within the Pacific region.

What are the key challenges and areas of focus for the Pacific when it comes to plant health?

One of our main challenges is the threat of emerging pests. Spodoptera frugiperda (Fall armyworm) and Oryctes rhinoceros (Coconut rhinoceros beetle) are the plant pests we are most concerned about as they may pose significant risks to our food crops. Thankfully, we haven’t faced major incursions recently, apart from a fruit fly outbreak we successfully eradicated. Being a small island nation, our resources are limited. We conduct weekly surveillance for pests like the giant African snail and other invasive species. We also work hard on public awareness, encouraging island visitors and importers to follow proper procedures to avoid introducing possible plant pests.

We are also exploring the possibility of conducting simulation exercises for pest incursions, which would be highly beneficial. Due to the practical and resource-efficient option nature of virtual formats we are considering them although we do see value of replicating the complexity of a real-life incursion. One aspect which I think is key when combatting emerging pests is regional collaboration — sharing experiences and strategies across countries in a win-win for all those involved.

How can the IPPC support the Cook Islands and your region in addressing your challenges?

One of the main challenges we face in the Southwest Pacific region is capacity development. As small island states, we do not have the resources to develop our own materials which is why IPPC guides, training materials and other resources are essential for upskilling our staff and enhancing our preparedness. In the Cook Islands we have made capacity development a clear priority, and we very much welcomed the recent addition of IPPC e-learning courses, complementing the IPPC guides which we were already using. We are exploring more ways to integrate these materials into our national training programs, tailoring our capacity development approach to our unique context as a small island state. We look forward to any new resources in development and the IPPC Secretariat can count on my support in promoting their use throughout the region!

What message would you like to share with the international community?

While the Cook Islands is small, we face the same challenges as larger nations—land scarcity, aging workforces, and the need for food security. Despite these challenges, we are punching above our weight, striving for resilience and sustainability. We want the world to know that we are capable and willing to contribute to global efforts. At the same time, we appreciate support and collaboration to help us overcome our unique challenges. Plant health is integral to food security, and it deserves equal priority within the global agenda.

I hope the international community recognizes the interconnectedness of plant health, food security, and environmental sustainability. Without farmers, we don’t eat—it’s as simple as that.