Aquaculture America 2024 is the leading USA national aquaculture conference and expo. The event will include relevant research and extension projects funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). At the conference, there will be talks by specialists and an exhibition of their works to be held on February 18–24 in San Antonio, Texas.
The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is the entity that helps support the development of some of the most innovative aquaculture projects that are the stars of Aquaculture America 2024, a national aquaculture conference in America. Dr. Tim Sullivan, Director of Aquaculture Grants at NIFA, stressed the need for the continuation and development of the programs in order to move the whole aquaculture industry of the USA forward.The rise in global demand for seafood to the tune of 70% in the next three decades, coupled with stable levels of harvests from capture fisheries, means that growing aquaculture globally is a must in juxtaposition to the food supply required in the future. Through the collaborative efforts of the NIFA, land-grant universities, and a host of stakeholders, adequate finances are disbursed for research programs, technology development, and extension programs.
A highlight of the conference will be a 3.5-hour education session titled “Impacts and Outcomes: The USDA Grant through NIFA for “USDA NIFA Support for US Aquaculture,” which will begin on February 21st. This presentation will represent 13 NIFA-funded projects that have produced projects such as building the nation’s first Burbot fingerling factory and developing new diagnostic methods that certify that aquafeed is disease-resistant.
Innovative research by Arun K. Dhar from the University of Arizona focuses on updating methods for the biosecurity of aquafeed and feed ingredients, and Shraddha Hedge of Texas A&M University looks at the economic risks facing aquaculture businesses in the U.S.
Brandy E. Phippes (Central State University) intends to look into the industrial relationship between the hemp grain and the aquaculture feed in the Sustainable Agriculture Systems project, which has the goal of promoting sustainability and food sovereignty.
The research and extension programs of NIFA within aquaculture are numerous and crucial, as the funding comes from different sources as well as species, both freshwater and marine. The agency is also placed in a key position of coordination of joint aquaculture programs between its federal branches through the Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture.
The establishment of the Aquaculture America 2024 program for NIFA-sponsored researchers and Extension specialists is a vital way for the convention to provide a dialogue between aquaculture industry professionals and NIFA-funded specialists, leading to new innovations in the sector’s steep growth curve.
