Transforming food systems with aquatic foods
Advancing equitable livelihoods for healthy people and planet
An Independent Food Systems Summit Dialogue on the role of aquatic foods in sustainable food systems, exploring actions, how to connect research and policy, and how to scale up the good solutions.
In the lead-up to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, the Global Action Network, Sustainable Food from the Oceans and Inland Waters for Food Security and Nutrition are holding a series of three Independent Dialogues in an effort to include aquatic foods as key solutions for food and nutrition security – bridging the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition and the Decade of Ocean Science to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. The events are co-hosted by the Norwegian leadership of the Global Action Network and WorldFish,
In this third dialogue, cross-sectoral representatives, including high-level representatives, will come together to explore possible solutions and important actions for aquatic foods to be key in food systems transformations, as part of the summit’s Action Track 4, which aims to advance equitable livelihoods. The panel members will take a holistic approach, combining knowledge on different issues related to equitable livelihoods, food security and nutrition along the aquatic food chain and discuss ways to scale up the good solutions to ensure access to resources, decent work, while improving the food and nutrition security.
Event recording
Special message from Michelle Nunn, Chair Action track 4, President and CEO, CARE, USA
Benson Obwanga, Laikipia University College, Kenya, An Aquatic Food system approach focusing on rural urban connectivity: how to scale the impact of change makers?
Lelei LeLaulu
Chairman, Earth Council Alliance
LeLaulu is a development entrepreneur working at the intersection of climate change, tourism, food security and renewable energy. He leads several NGOs and humanitarian agencies in the Pacific, including the Oceania Sustainable Tourism Alliance.
Benson Obwanga
Lecturer, Laikipia University College
Obwanga is a researcher in aquatic ecology. His research focuses on the sustainable production of fish feed and explores innovative ways to connect sustainable aquaculture with accessible markets for improved food security.
Amy Atter
Senior Research Scientist, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Atter is a food systems researcher with a market-oriented focus on food and nutrition security and food safety in Africa. As part of her work, she helps to develop the innovative integration of small fish in African food systems for improved nutrition.
Dr. Emma Witbooi
Project manager, UNDP’s Blue Resilience Project
Dr. Witbooi is a director of PescaDOLUS, an international research network based in South Africa, which focuses on fisheries crime research. She is currently project manager of the United Nations Development Programme’s Blue Resilience project. She is the lead author of the Blue Paper on ‘Organized Crime in the Fisheries Sector.’
Aksel Jakobsen
State Secretary of International Development, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jakobsen has previously worked as an advisor to GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. He has acted as senior policy advisor to the Christian Democratic Party’s Parliamentary group and as political advisor to the former Minister of Health and the Minister of Labour. Jakobsen has a law degree from the University of Tromsø.
Dominik Ziller
Vice President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Ziller oversees the strategic direction at IFAD, an UN financial institution driving the sustainable, inclusive transformation of rural communities. His work guides efforts to increase access to resources and markets for improved livelihoods.
Dr. Shakuntala Thilsted
Global Lead, Nutrition & Public Health, WorldFish & Vice Chair, Action Track 4, UNFSS 2021
Dr. Thilsted’s pioneering science on nutrition, fish and aquatic food systems saw her awarded the 2021 World Food Prize. Her work on nutrition-sensitive approaches to food systems has improved the food and nutrition security of millions in Asia, Africa and the Pacific.
Michelle Nunn
President and CEO, CARE & Chair, Action Track 4, UNFSS 2021
Nunn leads CARE, a humanitarian organization that fights global poverty and provides emergency aid. Under her leadership, CARE is working to support 200 million of the world’s most vulnerable people to overcome poverty and social injustice by 2030.
Nicole Franz
Fishery Analyst, Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, FAO
Franz is a development economist with 18 years of experience in intergovernmental organizations. At FAO, her work focuses on advancing the sustainability, inclusivity and resilience of small-scale fisheries through effective policy and stakeholder engagement.