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Pacific Island taro field. (Photo credit: CSIRO)

University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu faculty have advanced international research and practice on preparing food systems for climate-related disasters, pandemics and other interconnected disruptions through the completion of the Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems special research topic, “Food System Resilience, Disaster Preparedness & Response,” now published as an open access e-book that can be downloaded.

“Universities create their greatest value by translating recent scientific knowledge into practical action. This research topic, our Hawaiʻi disaster preparedness study, and the Resilient by Design initiative demonstrate a knowledge-to-action model that connects research, community partnerships and public policy to build resilient agri-food systems,” said Albie Miles, associate professor of sustainable community food systems.

Miles, who is also the co-director of the UH’s Ke Ō Mau Center for Sustainable Island Food Systems, served as lead associate editor for Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. This collection, which comprises 14 articles by 61 authors, has already garnered more than 98,000 views and downloads.

Need for improved preparedness Hurrican Lane (2018) approaching the Hawaiian Islands. (Photo credit: NOAA)

The research is particularly relevant for Hawaiʻi. Recent history has illustrated the fragility of local food access, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the devastating 2023 Lahaina wildfires and frequent severe weather. The publication explores these types of vulnerabilities while offering evidence-based strategies for disaster preparedness, recovery and adaptation.

A recurring theme in the research is the need for improved household preparedness. A previous study by UH West Oʻahu Professor Konstantinos Zougris and Miles found that only 12% of 1,006 surveyed Hawaiʻi households maintained the state recommended 14-day supply of food, water and essential medicine. This finding underscores the necessity of strengthening household preparedness as a foundation for broader food system resilience.

The project also dovetails with the Resilient by Design: Reimagining Pacific Food Systems initiative that focuses on transforming Pacific food security, climate adaptation, and regional sovereignty. As a co-lead on the project’s steering committee, Miles helped bridge global resilience science with Pacific Island priorities to strengthen partnerships across the region.

Pacific Island crops, fish and livestock. (Photo credit: CSIRO and Albie Miles)