Transforming food systems with aquatic foods: Access to sustainable, safe and nutritious food for all

An Independent Dialogue exploring the actions needed to drive aquatic food solutions as part of the UN Food System Summit.

Date: Friday, 30 April 2021

Time: 19:00-20:30 (UTC+8)

Click here to watch the event recording

In the lead up to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, the Global Action Network, Sustainable Food from the Oceans and Inland Waters for Food Security and Nutrition will hold a series of three Independent Dialogues in an effort to include aquatic foods as key solutions for food and nutrition security. The events, co-hosted by the Norwegian leadership of the Global Action Network and WorldFish, aim to bridge the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition and the Decade of Ocean Science to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals.

In this first dialogue, experts and high-level representatives from research, policy and development showcased possible solutions and discussed ways to scale good ideas as part of the summit’s Action Track 1, which aims to ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all. The panelists took on a holistic approach, combining knowledge on different aspects of food systems and consider key actions needed for aquatic foods to be a central part of a sustainable food systems transformation.

Opening remarks

• Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen, Minister of Fisheries and Seafood, Norway

Invited speakers

Walking the talk: Showcasing possible solutions

• Prof Hettie Schönfeldt, Scientific Advisor, AFROFOODS
• Merete Tandstad, Senior Program Coordinator of the EAF-Nansen Programme, FAO
• Dr. Arun Padiyar, Project Manager, Sustainable Aquaculture, WorldFish, India
• Dr António Marques, Project Coordinator, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere

Connecting research and policy: How do we scale up good solutions

• Prof Sissel Rogne, Managing Director (CEO), The Institute of Marine Research (IMR)
• Lana Weidgenant, Vice Chair, Action Track 2: Shift to sustainable consumption patterns
• Dr. Naoko Yamamoto, Assistant Director General for Universal Health Coverage; Chair, UN Nutrition
• Dr. Manuel Barange, Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Resources Division, FAO

Closing remarks

• Dr. Lawrence Haddad, Chair, Action Track 1: Access to safe and nutritious food for all

Moderator

• Kristian Teleki, Director, Head of Secretariat, High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

This event will be opened and closed by the Senior Adviser at Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and Head of the Global Action Network Sustainable Food from the Oceans and Inland Waters for Food Security and Nutrition, Anita Utheim Iversen.

To learn more about the outcomes of the first dialogue, read the event summary blog and explore the list of questions and answers.

Follow Global Action Network, WorldFish and the hashtag #aquaticfoods to check out past conversations on Twitter.