Investing In Blue Foods: Innovation and Partnerships for Impact
Blue foods is a term for fish, shellfish, crustaceans, seaweed, and other edible aquatic creatures. These foods are already a crucial component of global nutrition, but their value can increase with further growth. This white paper by the World Economic Forum‘s Food Innovators Network, in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), examines how to increase investment in blue foods in Africa.
Blue foods already account for about 18% of animal protein across Africa, and the sector is growing quickly. If the production were doubled, it could reduce the protein gap by 25%, create 3 million jobs, and add $17 billion to GDP. However, there are challenges to reaching this goal, such as high feed costs, loss from poor storage and transport, disease outbreaks, and environmental pressures. African innovators are already looking into solutions, however. These include:
— Improving breeding, feeds, and vaccinations to lower inputs costs and disease risks
— Using better tools for real-time monitoring and precision feeding
— Reducing spoilage through solar-powered dryers, fish grading, and digital traceablility platforms
— Increasing the use of circular models to turn waste streams into value and increase resource efficiency
This innovation, while important, is not enough on its own. Looking at evidence from other areas, it is clear that governments, investors, and communities must all work together to get the most out of the blue food sector. Each group must play their part:
— Governments can set rules, invest in infrastructure, and use public programs for training
— The private sector can make things more efficient and connect finances and markets
— Development partners can de-risk early innovation with capital, which will strengthen capacity
— Communities can be inclusive and use technologies that will allow everyone to benefit together
If all groups come together, the blue food sector can become a powerful lever for growth and sustainability across Africa.
