
Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods
We will provide a way to boost access to nutritious foods while reducing emissions and supporting inclusive livelihoods. By combining diverse livestock and aquatic systems, we will create opportunities to address local challenges with integrated solutions tailored to specific contexts.
We envision to improve the lives and well-being of people in low- and middle-income countries by sustainably transforming animal and aquatic food systems, so they foster inclusive, healthy, and nutrient-dense food supply chains that are climate- and environmentally- friendly.
Our work aims to help with
- realizing 18 bilateral projects
- unlocking US$84 million in funding
- impacting more than 1 million people
Where we will work in
Kenya, Ethiopia, Mali, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Colombia, Guatemala, Senegal, Tunisia, Cambodia, Ghana, Nigeria, Timor Leste, Zambia, Malaysia and Egypt
Challenges we’ll address
- Animal and aquatic food systems impact and are impacted by climate change
- Limited access and affordability in animal and aquatic food value chains
- A lack of comprehensive data that constrains investment and policy decisions in value chains
- Productivity gaps and understanding what bundles of solutions work in specific contexts
- Animal disease and antimicrobial resistance because of environmental degradation
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Areas of Work
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Productivity+We will support animal and aquatic food producers in a socially inclusive manner as they adopt productivity-enhancing innovations that bring profit, reduce emissions and increase food nutrient value.
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Climate and the EnvironmentWe will bolster the efforts of communities within animal and aquatic food systems to adopt innovations for increased social, economic and environmental resilience.
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One HealthWe will develop and support innovations in animal and aquatic food systems to improve community health and well-being.
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Market Systems, Policy Solutions and ScalingWe will strengthen market actors including women, youth and marginalized groups, to participate in equitable, efficient, low-emission and resilient animal and aquatic food systems.
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Data and Digital SolutionsWe will assist all program-level outcomes in developing scalable innovations for improved productivity.
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Gender, Youth and Social InclusionWe will support the efforts of animal and aquatic food producers and communities to adopt more equitable norms for women and youth empowerment.
Our Approach
Interlinked support across CGIAR’s portfolio
Our program will complement the Better Diets and Nutrition, Breeding for Tomorrow, Climate Action, Multifunctional Landscapes, Sustainable Farming, Policy Innovations, and Scaling for Impact programs, and the Capacity Sharing, Digital Transformation, and Gender Equality & Inclusion accelerators.
Working to share our capacity with
- national partners, government agencies, and decision-makers
- smallholder farmers and small and medium entrepreneurs
- scientists and researchers
Built on CGIAR’s proven expertise
- Strong ties with agricultural research institutes, governments, local universities, community-based organizations, and NGOs
- Excellent laboratory facilities embedded in different areas worldwide
- Interdisciplinary teams of biophysical and social scientists and data analysts with extensive knowledge and experience in the low- and middle-income countries
News
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Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) program in Vietnam aims for unified pathway for livestock transformation in Son La and Thai Nguyen
Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science Program17.09.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
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Food security
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Nutrition
Vietnam’s livestock sector is growing rapidly, with farmers, cooperatives, consumers, and policyma…
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National workshop brings together key actors to co-design resilient livestock and aquaculture strategies for the Kafue River Basin in Zambia
Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science Program15.09.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
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Food security
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Nutrition
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Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
As Southern Africa faces mounting climate pressures and food system vulnerabilities, Zambia is stepp…
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Multi-stakeholder workshop shapes future of dairy innovation and policy in Nepal
Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science Program08.08.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
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Nutrition, health & food security
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Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
As Nepal positions itself to meet growing national demand for safe, nutritious dairy while tackling…
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CGIAR program focusses on a more inclusive and sustainable small ruminant value chain in Mali
Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science Program08.08.25-
Health
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Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
The CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) program is advancing gender inclusivity, scien…
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Unlocking aquaculture’s potential: Northern Ghana stakeholders co-design sustainable fish farming models
Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science Program28.07.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
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Nutrition, health & food security
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Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
Group photo of workshop participants (photo credit: IWMI). Written by: Giulia Zane, Sarah Appiah and…
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SAAF session at CGIAR Science Week reimagines the transformation of animal and aquatic food systems for a sustainable future
Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science Program05.05.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
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Nutrition, health & food security
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Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
Event summary On 9 April 2025, during the CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi, the Sustainable…
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Publications
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Assessing the impact of aquaculture in small dams in Ghana's North-East Region: early results and lessons
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)24.09.25-
Adaptation
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Food security
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Resource recovery from livestock waste: cases and business models from the Global South
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)07.07.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
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Nutrition, health & food security
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