Context
While the world’s oceans account for almost half of the planet’s biological production, they provide a much smaller proportion of human food – about 2% of overall calorie intake and 15% of protein intake . That is a missed opportunity, given the nutritional needs of the world’s growing population and the increasing pressure on land-based food sources.
In the meantime, the oceans as potential food sources are under increasing threat from global warming, acidification and pollution. Therefore, we urgently need innovative solutions that increase sustainable food production from the oceans while also reducing the pressure from human activity on the health of the ocean.
New solutions and initiatives are needed for growing and diversifying marine food in Europe.
HOW MIGHT WE (HMW) Questions
New solutions and initiatives are needed for:
► HMW integrate a holistic approach of environmental and socioeconomic impacts of food, aiming at changing consumers’ eating behaviour (eat local seafood, eat bivalves and algae)?
► HMW create incentives and accelerate a fair transition of fishers and seafood producers, to achieve lower impact and lower scale of seafood production?
► HMW develop alternative practices and foods in order to increase variety, attractiveness and quality of marine food options?
► HMW improve consumers’ literacy about economic, nutritional & environmental benefits and impacts of new and sustainable seafood?
► HMW reduce impact of seafood production along the full supply chain?
More information on the first Hack4Oceans is also available.