Dr Leslie Toralba Ubaub, a lecturer in the Discipline of Agriculture and Food Technology at the University of the South Pacific (USP) Samoa Campus, has been awarded the 2025 Vice-Chancellor and President's Strategic Fund for Female Academics to advance research on heat-tolerant tomato and capsicum varieties suited to Samoan growing conditions.
The grant provides six months of teaching release time for Dr Ubaub to focus on publishing and sharing her research, which examines the effects of climate change on crop performance, pest dynamics, and disease pressure. "This grant is both a privilege and a sacrifice," said Dr Ubaub. "It allows me to focus on writing and sharing research that can help improve food security in Samoa, while also recognising the important role of women balancing teaching, research, and family responsibilities."
The research builds on two earlier projects funded under the Pacific Agriculture Scholarships, Support and Climate Resilience programme and the PEGASUS 'Take-It-Further' Project supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. It evaluates heat-tolerant tomato and capsicum lines developed by the World Vegetable Center in Taiwan and tests their adaptability to Samoan conditions in partnership with Sunshine Pacific Ltd.
The work addresses the limited access to high-quality, locally produced seed materials, which has long affected vegetable production and contributed to import dependence. "Developing locally adaptable, open-pollinated varieties will ensure that farmers have access to affordable, reliable seeds and reduce reliance on costly hybrid imports," Dr Ubaub said.
The research also examines how changing weather conditions influence yields, pest populations, and farmer adaptation strategies. From an initial screening of ten tomato and twelve capsicum lines, five heat-tolerant selections are now under field evaluation by local farmers. The next phase will focus on seed multiplication and distribution through USP's Agriculture and Food Technology programme in collaboration with Sunshine Pacific Ltd.
Dr Ubaub has previously studied the effects of extreme temperatures on pollinators and plant reproduction through her 2023 Future Thinker's Award project. Her ongoing work links pollination, pest management, and heat tolerance to strengthen crop resilience.
Her team includes a USP laboratory technician and Master's student Michael Sefilino and several student interns, contributing to local capacity building. Collaborators include Professor Daniel Tan from the University of Sydney and Drs Derek Barchenger and Assaf Eybishitz from the World Vegetable Center in Taiwan.
Community participation remains central to the project, with Samoan farmers sharing knowledge on pest patterns, soil responses, and weather impacts. "The pandemic highlighted how critical local food production is for island nations," said Dr Ubaub. "This research is a step towards ensuring that Samoan farmers have access to seeds that are affordable, available, and resilient to climate change."
Future work will expand field trials to additional agro-climatic zones in Samoa and neighbouring Pacific Islands, to establish a community-based seed production system.
Source: Islands Business
