COFI36 side event July 2024
The case for aquatic blue food in achieving SDG 2 (zero hunger)
Reducing hunger and improving nutrition outcomes
– COFI36 Side Event
Global Action Network and Aquatic Blue Food Coalition will together host a side event during COFI 36
Time: 12:15-13:15, 9 July 2024 CET
Location: Sheikh Zayed Centre, FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy
Event description
The world faces the triple challenge of meeting food security/nutrition, climate change and biodiversity goals; The UN Committee on World Food Security emphasizes the importance of including aquatic foods in food security and nutrition policies and to integrate food security and nutrition considerations into fisheries and aquaculture policies and programs, also recognizing the contribution of small-scale fisheries.
This event will underscore the importance of knowledge-based actions based on reliable sources on the nutritional value of various aquatic foods. It will also highlight knowledge on the role of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, especially small scale producers. The fact that nutrients from aquatic foods can help battling malnutrition and lower the risk of diseases, and that sustainable fisheries and aquaculture play an important role in providing these nutrients well as to provide income and livelihoods, are often overlooked by national policies.
The event will debate the importance of knowledge to enable the development of sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems policies and programs that ensure equitable distribution and enhance climate resilience in the sector.
This approach will contribute to the development of food systems that promote both human and environmental well-being.
Themes:
1) The composition and Nutritional aspects of aquatic foods. This session will raise awareness about the significance of reliable sources for accessing information on aquatic food composition as a basis for policies on sustainable food systems and food security.
2) Small-Scale Fishing and Aquaculture. This section will highlight the contribution of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture to food security. It will also provide a platform for member states to hear directly from participants of the second SSF Summit, which will take place at FAO headquarters, prior to COFI.
Speakers
Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Norway (bio)
Kendra Byrd, Senior Research Fellow, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK (bio)
Rita Hannisdal, Senior Researcher, Institute of Marine Research, Norway (bio)
Fernanda Grande, Nutrition Officer (food composition), Food and Nutrition Division, FAO (bio)
Sitilitha Masangwi, Youth representative – Food Composition Data Compiler, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi (bio)
Sonia Sharan, Senior Manager Impact and Economics, Oceana (bio)
Oluwafunmilola Shelika, Chairperson, AWFISHET, Nigeria (bio)
Bernice McLean, Senior Program Officer, AUDA – NEPAD, Aquatic and Blue Food Coalition Member (bio)
Rebecca Wintering, Foreign Affairs Officer, Office of Marine Conservation, U.S. Department of State (bio)
Hettie Schönfeldt, Professor, University of Pretoria, South Africa (bio)
Jon Erlingur Jonasson, Icelandic Special Envoy for the Oceans and incoming Chair of the Aquatic and Blue Food Coalition (bio)
This event is based on initiatives by Norway as the leader of the Global Action Network and supported by: South Africa; Iceland, European Union; International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD); CGIAR Nutrition, Health and Food Security Impact Area Platform, and by Iceland as the leader of the Aquatic Blue Food Coalition and supported by: United States of America; Germany; Environmental Defense Fund; Small-Scale Fisheries Hub.