![](https://www.nextias.com/ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/784346Screenshot.png)
In News
- Most aquaculture systems have not achieved the levels of efficiency seen in terrestrial food production systems as per a report titled “Environmental performance of blue foods”.
- The report is a part of the Blue Food Assessment (BFA).
- The BFA is a collaboration between
- Sweden-based Stockholm Resilience Centre,
- United States-based Stanford University and
- the non-profit EAT.
What is Blue Food?
- They are food derived from aquatic or marine animals, plants or algae that are caught or cultivated in freshwater and marine environments.
- Examples
- Seaweeds, Sea Cucumber
- Bivalves (mussels, oysters, etc.)
- Fishes like tilapia, salmon, catfish and carp, etc.
- It also involves Capture Fisheries.
- Capture fisheries refers to all kinds of harvesting of naturally occurring living resources in both marine and freshwater environments.
Benefits of Blue Food
- High Nutritional Benefits
- They have higher nutritional benefits in comparison to terrestrial food.
- Many blue food species are rich in important nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.
- Ecological benefits and environmental footprints
- They are more sustainable as they release less greenhouse gasses.
- On average, the major species produced in aquaculture were found to have lower environmental footprints comparable to terrestrial meat.
- Less pressure on Land
- The aquaculture and marine farms free the space which was needed for feeding the growing population by conventional agriculture.
- Food Security
- Investing in innovation and improving fisheries management could increase consumption even more and have profound effects on malnutrition.
- They can feed the masses by solving both the problem of
- Real Hunger
- Hidden Hunger
- Fulfilling SDG commitment
- Promotion of Blue food will help in fulfillment of many Sustainable development Goals. E.g.
- SDG 2: Nutrition
- SDG 14: Sustainable use of marine resources
- Promotion of Blue food will help in fulfillment of many Sustainable development Goals. E.g.
Challenges to Blue Food
- Acceptance to Blue Food
- The acceptance of the sea cucumber and similar variants is still very less.
- It needs a behavioural change in dietary habits.
- Technology and Capital Intensive sector
- One of the major challenges with blue food is the need for high end technology and capital.
- Lack of skilled labour and resources
- It needs rare skilled labour.
- Lack of proper cuisine and dishes
- More R&D activities are required by chefs and scientists to make dishes loved by the masses.
- Danger of invasive species
- There may be a threat of invasive species in case of imports for culturing in a country.
Conclusion
- Blue Food is the future
- The report acknowledged the vital role to be played by Blue foods in the shift towards healthy, equitable and sustainable food systems.
- These have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through improved management and optimising gear types.
- The Blue Economy Policy is working toward mainstreaming such food and should be promoted.
Few schemes related to Blue Food Draft Blue Economy Policy:
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana:
|
Source: DTE
Previous article
Bharatmala Pariyojana
Next article
Schools of Specialised Excellence (SOSE)