Knowledge brokering for nature-based solutions in aquaculture transformation in Asia-Pacific: support to the Aquaculture Innovation and Investment Hub

 

The Asia-Pacific region is the world’s largest aquaculture producer, contributing 92% of the supply of farmed aquatic foods. Aquaculture can be an environmentally responsible, low-carbon form of food production. However, challenges may prevent aquaculture from meeting global demand for aquatic food in a sustainable and inclusive way. Policies, financing and market incentives are needed to ensure that green aquaculture innovations like nature-based solutions are accessible and adopted. A new Aquaculture Innovation and Investment Hub hosted by the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific aims to address this need for knowledge brokerage by convening researchers, the private and public sectors and civil society towards a regional sustainable aquaculture transformation.

This project will support the hub’s development while leveraging its reach. Activities include exchanges between research teams and aquaculture stakeholders; development of national innovation and investment plans for sustainable aquaculture; and private-sector scoping research and the development of a private-sector engagement strategy. It is expected that this project will enhance research impact while helping to foster enabling policies, investments and markets for socially inclusive nature-based solutions in aquaculture across the Asia-Pacific region.

The project is part of AQUADAPT, which is co-funded by Global Affairs Canada and IDRC. AQUADAPT is a four-year initiative aimed at driving research-action toward inclusive nature-based solutions and at better understanding how such solutions can contribute to climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation and food security across the Asia-Pacific region.