Innovation for Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems: Insights from the S-PoL Event
Introduction
From December 8th to 10th, 2024, Samaky Hub participated in the Science-Policy Lab (S-PoL) on Innovations for Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems in Cape Town, South Africa. This transformative event brought together government officials, private sector, academia, and civil society representatives to explore innovative pathways for advancing inclusive and sustainable aquatic food systems. The event’s emphasis on inclusivity and sustainability resonates deeply with our mission to empower communities and champion sustainable aquaculture practices across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Role of Aquatic Food Systems in Sustainability
Aquatic food systems are essential to global food security, supplying 15% of the world’s animal protein and key nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids. They support healthier diets while having a smaller environmental footprint compared to land-based protein sources, making them crucial for tackling climate and sustainability challenges.
At Samaky Hub, we are committed to embedding sustainability into every aspect of our operations. Our innovative practices like Black Soldier Fly (BSF) farming and capacity-building programs for small-scale fish farmers ensure that our work empowers communities while prioritizing environmental preservation.
Key Themes from the S-PoL Event
The S-PoL event underscored the importance of creating inclusive innovation ecosystems to address the unique challenges and opportunities within aquatic food systems. Key themes included:
- Fostering Inclusive Innovation to create equitable and impactful solutions.
- Strengthening Collaboration to accelerate innovation.
- Addressing Systemic Barriers in policy-making.
Our Contributions
At the event, we shared insights into our work, highlighting how our innovative practices are advancing sustainable and inclusive aquaculture in Africa. We focused on our efforts to close critical gaps in the aquaculture value chain, ensuring small-scale producers gain the resources and knowledge needed to thrive. Through strategic connections with investors, researchers, and policymakers, we empower startups and fish farmers to succeed and drive meaningful change.
“Our mission is to showcase Africa’s aquaculture on a global platform. I engage directly with fish farmers, capturing their stories through interviews and documenting their experiences. These stories are then featured on The Fish Site, a global online magazine with over 2 million readers. This process not only amplifies their voices but also connects them to potential customers and investors, highlighting the vibrancy and potential of African aquaculture.” – Proscovia Alando, Founder of Samaky Hub
Reflections and Lessons Learned
The S-PoL event reinforced the importance of equity, sustainability, and collaboration within innovation ecosystems. For us, this means:
- Empowering women and youth with tailored training and support to drive leadership in aquaculture.
- Advocating for inclusive policies that integrate aquaculture into national food security strategies.
- Partnering with international organizations to scale impactful, sustainable solutions.
A key takeaway was the value of combining traditional knowledge with modern technologies to create culturally relevant and effective solutions.
Call to Action
Transforming aquatic food systems requires collective effort and commitment. We are dedicated to collaborating with stakeholders across sectors to drive innovation that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. We believe we can shape the future of aquaculture in Africa and beyond through strategic partnerships, investments, and knowledge sharing.
Join us on this journey of innovation and collaboration to create sustainable solutions that ensure aquatic foods continue to nourish communities and ecosystems for generations to come.
Read about previous discussions here:
