Towards improved livelihoods, food and nutrition security, and gender equality for small-scale actors in aquatic food systems : a science-policy lab [résumé]

2025

Colloque

Koehler B., Mirera D., Francesconi N., Newton J., Njogu I., Pérez M., Lee M., Eggertsen M., Berkström C., Baruah K., Darias Maria J., Sorgeloos P., Ortiz Rios R.O., Karantininis K.

Nurturing regenerative food systems in a changing climate : book of abstracts

[Uppsala] : Agri4D, 2025, 79-80

Agri4D 2025 Conference, Uppsala (SWE), 2025/09/23-25

Small-scale fisheries and small-scale aquaculture are vital to food and nutrition security, livelihoods, and poverty reduction, particularly in many low- and middle-income countries. Despite providing most global fisheries employment and a substantial share of aquaculture production, their contributions are often overlooked in data and policies. Particularly women and marginalized communities often face barriers in accessing resources, engaging in decision-making and benefitting from aquatic foods. To address these challenges, a Science-Policy Lab in Mombasa, Kenya, brought together 48 stakeholders from nine African countries. The Lab ensured diverse representation of women, youth, Indigenous people, and small-scale actors. Preparatory community visits informed the discussions by providing insights into local realities and supporting the subsequent participation of diverse community spokespersons in the Lab. A literature review guided the Lab's focus on the co-development of policy options within three broad areas: (1) improving availability and equitable access to aquatic foods, (2) enhancing their use for nutrition and health, and (3) reducing social and economic inequalities in aquatic food systems. A central insight was the recognition of key trade-offs. For example, increasing aquatic food availability through innovation and small-scale production may not necessarily improve consumption among disadvantaged groups, since economic pressures, social and gender norms often lead small-scale producers to sell rather than consume the aquatic foods. Combining production-focused strategies with efforts to ensure equitable access and promote local dietary use may help to resolve this trade-off. The Lab illustrated how participatory, evidence-informed multi-stakeholder processes can support the analysis of complex food system transformation challenges.

Aquaculture [040AQUAC] ; Structures sociales, mouvements sociaux [106GESOC1]

Fonds IRD [F B010095235]

fdi:010095235