Innovations for sustainability and resilience in aquatic systems

Tabeth Chiuta, July 2013

4 issues

• Fish – trends and opportunities

• Aquaculture innovation

• Taking a systems approach

• Making it happen through partnerships

Photo Mongu fisher lady - switch

Global consumption patterns

Global consumption patterns

Growth in demand for fish (2007 – 2015)

Source: Cai (2011) Preliminary notes on forecasting the country’s future demand for fish.

Growing importance of aquaculture

• Growing gap between demand and supplyo Most traded food

commodity• Stable or declining

capture fisheries• Rapid growth in

aquacultureo 6% per year in past

5yrso 12 million Asian fish

farmers

Global fish production

1970 1980 1990 2000 20100

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

year

milli

on to

nnes

capture

culture

source: FAO

7

African aquaculture lagging behind

Aquaculture• 50% of global fish supply• 16% of African fish supply

Prod

uctio

nM

illio

n to

nnes

1995 2000 2005 2010

2

4

6

Aquaculture Growth in Egypt

Aquaculture Growth in Ghana

Innovation – genetic improvementGenetic gain in GIFT in Malaysia (>10% per generation)

Components Objectives

1. Fish and shrimp seed Dissemination of improved quality lines of fish and shrimp seed

2.2. Household aquaculture Improving the nutrition and income status of farm households

3. 3. Commercial aquaculture

Increasing investment, employment and fish production through commercial aquaculture

4. Institution and policy Support to regulatory reform and institutional capacity building for sustainable aquaculture growth

Innovation – systems improvement

Innovation - value

Innovation – 3 components

Aquatic Agricultural Systems

Need to take a systems approach to innovation

Major demand and opportunity in Africa to harness the potential of

increased fish production

Opportunities and capacity to innovate

Fish + Agriculture +

Rural poverty and AAS

Source: Bené & Teoh, in prep.

System Area (km²)

People Living in poverty

Africa – freshwater

800,000 70m 43m

Africa – coastal

300,000 12m 7m

AAS livelihoods in Zambezi basin

livestock

cropsfish

nrm

Aquatic Agricultural Systems

Beyond commodities to focus on systems and

livelihoods

AAS research agenda

• Sustainable increases in productivity – crops, fish, livestock

• Improved access to markets• Strengthened resilience and adaptive

capacity• Enhanced gender equality in access to and

control of resources and decision making• Improved policies and institutions• Scaling up (knowledge sharing and learning)

AAS Southern

Polder Zone

WHEAT; GRiSP

CPWF - WLE

CCAFS

A4NH

PIM

CGIAR Alignment

L&F

AAS innovation

• Gender• Nutrition• ME&IA• Scaling• Partnerships• Capacity

dep’t

AAS – African Partnership – NEPAD; FARA

• Choosing where we work

• Knowledge, information and technology systems

• Joint communications• Building capacity

Thank You