The 21st International Institute of Fisheries Economics & Trade (IIFET) Conference will take place from July 15 to 19, 2024, in Penang, Malaysia. This year’s theme, “Aquatic Food Systems in the Blue Economy,” highlights the critical intersection of fisheries and aquaculture economics with global challenges like food system sustainability, economic inequality, climate change, and the aftermath of COVID-19.
Returning to Asia for the first time since 2008, the biennial conference is organized by WorldFish and Malaysia’s Department of Fisheries. It aims to foster discussions on creating a resilient blue economy that ensures healthy people, a healthy planet, and shared prosperity.
ISD’s Co-organized Session on Regenerative Aquaculture
A key session, “Regenerative Aquaculture: Economics and Policy,” co-organized by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and WorldFish, will be held on July 16, 2024, from 15:30 to 17:00 MYT at the Wembley Hotel.
The session will tackle the challenges aquaculture faces, including changing consumer demands, geopolitical trade issues, regulatory challenges, and the need to adapt to climate change. It will also explore how the sector can reduce emissions, produce nutritious food, and provide decent work, especially for women and youth in coastal communities.
Key Discussion Points:
– Can aquaculture be nature-positive and inclusive while meeting the demand for affordable, nutritious food?
– What are the production potentials, profitability, required incentive mechanisms, and costs of transitioning to regenerative aquaculture?
The session, supported by the AQUADAPT program funded by IDRC and the Government of Canada, will feature a panel of experts including Eddie Allison (WorldFish), Mélanie Robertson (IDRC), Nikita Gopal (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), Ling Cao (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Justin Hunter (J. Hunter Pearls), Victor Nikijuluw (Konservasi Indonesia), Andrew Ng (HJT Foods Sdn. Bhd.), and Prashneel Chandra (Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji).
The IIFET 2024 conference promises to be a significant platform for sharing innovative ideas and solutions for sustainable economic development in the aquatic food sector.
