Ludovic Charlet, Unsplash
Harnessing the Waters: A Trillion Dollar Investment Opportunity
World Bank Group Fisheries & Aquaculture
With global seafood demand rising and wild fisheries stretched to their limits, sustainable aquaculture has become essential to food security and economic growth, and it plays a major role in reducing greenhouse emissions and limiting environmental damage. Now responsible for nearly 60 percent of global seafood production, it is ever more critical for meeting the demand for dietary protein and reducing food insecurity.
This report offers insights to public and private sector investors, positioning aquaculture among the most promising opportunities for building a more sustainable food system over the next 25 years. It identifies a $1.5 trillion investment opportunity that could generate as many as 22 million new jobs by 2050 – expanding employment for youth and creating greater economic opportunities for women - and curbing rural-urban migration.
Drawing insights from seven mature aquaculture industries across the globe – Bangladesh, Chile, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Thailand and Viet Nam – the report examines how financial mechanisms, and the evolving roles of the public and private sectors informs future investments in sustainable aquaculture.
The report analyzes investment trends and financial mechanisms shaping the industry’s future, concluding that aquaculture’s growth potential requires a significant transition from small-scale to more intensive production. To reach its full potential, the sector now requires innovative financing at scale, particularly in emerging markets helping small scale farmers improve productivity through adoption of improved farming practices.
Read the full report here.