Co-Host Lead Session 1: Aquatic Foods as a Climate-Smart Source of Nutrition

Aquatic, or “blue,” foods have enormous potential to contribute to achieving net-zero emissions from food systems and to support food security and livelihoods globally through provision of key micronutrients and protein to some of the most climate change vulnerable and food insecure communities in the world. However, the importance of blue foods for food and nutrition security has been undervalued and overlooked in conversations about climate change and food security challenges. 

This session aims to highlight the importance of blue foods for small-scale fishing communities and vulnerable populations, especially women and children. We will hear directly from small-scale fishers and aquaculturists about the current contributions of blue foods to their community’s food security and nutrition, and how they are adapting to climate change’s effects on essential sources of nutrition and livelihoods. We will also hear from a leading scientist in this field who will share a summary of the mounting evidence that aquatic foods could be key to meeting food and nutrition goals in the face of climate change in coastal countries around the world, as well as a summary of the challenges we must overcome to enable this.