Objectifs scientifiques et projet de recherche

Aquatic or blue foods, including fish, invertebrates, algae, and aquatic plants, are crucial for food and nutritional security worldwide. They provide 15% of global animal proteins and are especially vital in low-income nations where they can account for over half of animal protein intake. Beyond protein, aquatic foods are rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. However, their significance is often overlooked in policy discussions and financial allocations. For instance, many countries manage fisheries and aquaculture with an economic perspective, prioritizing exports over domestic food security. Promoting nutrition-sensitive aquatic food systems is considered paramount to change this paradigm. This implies a shift from solely viewing fisheries and aquaculture as a means of producing aquatic foods, to a means for promoting well-being, necessitating consideration of socio-economic, environmental, and cultural dimensions. Over the last thirty years, aquaculture has expanded rapidly to meet global demand. The global per capita consumption of aquatic products is expected to increase by 2030, except in Africa, due to population growth exceeding supply on this continent. Despite a significant expansion of the aquaculture industry in Africa over recent years, it only accounts for about 3% of global aquaculture production. With production primarily based on freshwater aquaculture, Africa currently has one of the lowest levels of marine aquaculture productions worldwide. The AfriMAQUA initiative has successfully built a collaborative network of researchers from various African countries and France, aiming to improve the sustainability of marine aquaculture in Africa. Building upon this foundation, the second phase of the network plans to incorporate a nutrition-sensitive approach, advancing towards aquatic food systems that are sustainable and promote diets that are healthier and resilient. AfriMAQUA’s primary objective is to foster the development of sustainable and nutrition-sensitive marine aquaculture in Africa to contribute to food and nutrition security, poverty alleviation, and income creation. To this end, AfriMAQUA will 1) foster solution-oriented research and new technological innovations in sustainable and nutrition-sensitive marine aquaculture, 2) enhance skills and knowledge in sustainable nutrition-sensitive marine aquaculture research and practices, and 3) contribute through training in participatory approaches to identifying drivers and barriers for the sustainable development of marine aquaculture in Africa for food and nutrition security as well as for empowering local communities. AfriMAQUA will leverage its partnership with the LIMAQUA International Joint Laboratory in South Africa to enhance collaborative research and capacity building. As an endorsed programme of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, AfriMAQUA plans to extend its influence across Africa, promoting interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder collaborations and knowledge sharing, underscoring the importance of coordinated approaches.

Unités IRD impliquées

• Département Océans, climat et ressources (OCEANS)
• MARBEC
• Département société et santé (SAS)
• QUALISUD

Institutions membres

IRD : Institut de recherche pour le développement

CPUT : Cape Peninsula University of Technology

CRO : Centre de recherches océanologiques

CSIR : Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

DFFE : Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

INRAe : Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement

Instituto Oceanográfico de Moçambique (InOM), Pemba Research Center - Mozambique

IPNETP : Institut pédagogique national de l'enseignement technique et professionnelle

ISRA : Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles

KMFRI : Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute

Stellenbosch University

UBO : Université de Bretagne occidentale

UM : Université de Montpellier

USSEIN : Université du Sine Saloum El-Hâdj Ibrahima

UGB : Université Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis

UNA : Université Nangui Abrogoua

UPGC : Université Péléforo-Gbon-Coulibaly

UCT : University of Cape Town

UDSM : University of Dar es Salaam

UJ : University of Johannesburg

University of Mauritius

UNAM : University of Namibia

ZAFIRI : Zanzibar Fisheries and Marine Resources Research Institute

Objectif(s) du développement durable ciblé(s)

ODD02 - FAIM "ZERO"

ODD12 - CONSOMMATION ET PRODUCTION RESPONSABLES

ODD14 - VIE AQUATIQUE