By Carolina Custodio and Samira Scoton |
In the last 20 years, the aquaculture sector has evolved from a relatively secondary role to a leading part in the global food system. The continued growth of the sector has important implications for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (ODS) of the United Nations (ONU). Ongoing studies point to opportunities and new challenges. Considering world population growth by 2050, the strategic location of aquaculture systems, designed and implemented to be highly sustainable, could support industry’s commercial and environmental success. Aquaculture systems benefit from genetic and nutritional advancements, but remain vulnerable to market volatility, to extreme weather events, and pandemics such as COVID-19.
Impacts on Defense and Security: This type of food production has grown the most in the last two decades. Aquaculture will require policy and program planning to ensure food supply in line with the world’s population growth, in order to avoid conflicts and social upheavals driven by lack of food.
Source: NAYLOR, R. L. et al. A 20-year retrospective review of global aquaculture. Nature, London, n. 591, p. 551–563. 03/24/2021. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03308-6.