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IDRC has launched a new initiative to advance climate resilience through aquaculture

 
Our planet needs more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable aquaculture food systems to face the intertwined challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and food insecurity.
A man walks on raised fishing nets in a harbour.
© Leo Nankervis / James Cook University

Aquaculture — the farming of animals and plants in water — is critical for healthy diets as a source of protein and other nutrients. It generates economic value and creates employment, and yet faces threats due to climate change in the form of warming water, cyclones, droughts and floods.

To address this need, IDRC has partnered with the Government of Canada to launch AQUADAPT, a four-year, CAD23-million initiative to test and scale practical ways to improve small-scale aquaculture’s climate resilience, productivity and sustainability.

The partnership has the potential to develop nature-based solutions that protect, restore and sustainably manage aquatic ecosystems. This includes innovations like climate-resilient shrimp production that protects mangroves or more sustainable fish feeds made from ingredients that would otherwise go to waste.

The initiative features 11 research alliances across Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. It involves partnerships with 35 institutions and engages community leaders, aquafarmers and other stakeholders.

It will help transform agrifood in support of a more sustainable future through viable aquaculture solutions that ensure healthy diets, quality jobs and livelihoods and robust production in a changing climate, for the benefit of communities and ecosystems across the world.

The AQUADAPT initiative recently hosted their launch event with over 150 participants from 11 countries to collaborate on nature-based solutions in aquaculture. These solutions address social, economic and environmental challenges, simultaneously providing benefits to human wellbeing, resilience and biodiversity.

Learn more about the AQUADAPT initiative