Blue Food For Mitigating Global Hunger

Nowadays, discussions about food systems have traditionally been predominantly focused on terrestrial agriculture and livestock production. This narrow focus has frequently neglected the important role that aquatic or "blue" crops can play in addressing global food and nutrition security issues. Blue foods, which include fish, crustaceans, algae, and aquatic plants collected or grown in freshwater and marine habitats, constitute a complex and frequently overlooked component of the global food system. Nonetheless, these aquatic resources are critical to the livelihoods and nutrition of billions of people around the world, particularly in developing coastal and island countries. As the globe grapples with the need to establish more sustainable and equitable food systems that benefit both human and planetary health, the significance of blue foods is expected to expand even more. Compared to many terrestrial food production systems, many blue food systems have the potential to be more environmentally friendly, while also providing critical micronutrients, healthy fats, and high-quality protein that are essential for human nutrition. To ensure that blue foods continue to make a significant and positive contribution to global food security, it is imperative that governments and policy makers incorporate these aquatic resources into their food-related decision-making processes. In 2020, the UN Committee on World Food Security's High-Level Panel of Experts recommended for a significant change of the global food system, shifting away from a single focus on boosting overall food production and toward a more diverse, equitable, and sustainable approach. As this article will argue, the growing body of evidence suggests that when properly understood and managed, many blue food systems are well-suited to contribute to these necessary good transformations. By embracing the unique advantages and characteristics of aquatic food production, we can unlock the vast potential of blue foods to nourish both people and the planet in the years and decades to come.