Aquaculture is climbing up the global food and nutrition security agenda, this sector has the capacity to provide essential proteins as an industry, but also from small-scale producers, i.e. artisanal fishermen and fisherwomen. Both sectors can and should find ways to move forward together in creating value for food security. This is the aspiration of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

This aspiration ties in with the foundation’s vision of “a world in which every person has the opportunity to lead a healthy and productive life”.  Aquaculture shows great potential for improving sustainable protein production, especially in parts of the developing world. For this reason, the foundation is interested in being part of this development through partnerships with the private sector, injecting capabilities to areas that are developing and need a boost.

The foundation believes that the aquaculture industry has all the tools and technologies to support small-scale producers to unleash their full potential. As a foundation they are interested in supporting and encouraging these associativities in which everyone can improve and learn, leaving value in the territory.

It is for this reason that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be present at the inauguration of the international congress AquaSur 2022, entitled Blue Trilogy: Ocean, Aquaculture and Society. The congress will also highlight the importance of the year 2022 in aquaculture, being declared by FAO as the international year of artisanal fisheries and aquaculture. The congress will have three thematic modules on Innovation oriented towards sustainability; Technology and human capital: The changes to come; Health and wellness: A One Health perspective with national and international leading exponents.