Every October 16, Food Day is celebrated, promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). As the Norwegian Seafood Council reminds us, food sovereignty depends on the oceans. Sustainable aquaculture will be an essential pillar to ensure consumers high-quality protein at an affordable price
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), millions of people around the world cannot afford a healthy diet, placing them at high risk of food insecurity and malnutrition. The projections open up great uncertainties and risks, since the world population is expected to reach 8,500 million in 2030, 9,700 million in 2050 and 11,200 million in 2100. Will the planet be able to feed itself in such a scenario?
In a difficult context from the perspective of access to healthy, safe food, respectful of the environment and at reasonable prices for the consumer, the debate arises about which are the sources of supply with the greatest potential, among which fishing takes center stage and, especially aquaculture.
To meet the population’s demand for food in 2030, it is necessary to increase food production by 70% and optimize the use of resources with minimal environmental impact. In this sense, despite the fact that the oceans cover more than two thirds of the earth’s surface, today they only represent 2% of the world’s sustenance and less than 5% of the proteins, according to the director of the Council of Norwegian Sea Products in Spain, Björn-Erik Stabell.
“What if the future of global food sovereignty is there, for all to see, in the Sea? The time has come to reopen the debate on what can be done to provide healthy and sustainable sources of protein to the population. How produce more food with fewer resources such as water, while preserving natural spaces and forests, now under enormous pressure due to unstoppable deforestation, in order to increase cultivation areas, both to feed people and for intensive livestock farming,” adds Stabell, who explains that Norway has already taken action to contribute to a new global food model.
In fact, sustainable fishing is already one of the pillars of the Norwegian sector, the forerunner of demanding control and certification systems to ensure the future and viability of fisheries. As a result, the Coller FAIRR index, which collects the world’s most sustainable protein producers, has ranked Norwegian aquaculture companies as best in class. Of the seven companies classified as “low risk” for various parameters related to sustainability, three are Norwegian aquaculture companies.
The Coller FAIRR index is an annual evaluation of the world’s protein producers on their activity according to sustainability parameters such as greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and biodiversity, water use and scarcity, waste and pollution. pollution, antibiotics, animal welfare, working conditions, food safety or governance, among other parameters.
The Norwegian coast, jutting into the Arctic, provides ideal conditions for fishing and aquaculture. For thousands of years, Norwegian fishermen have survived thanks to their deep knowledge of the Norwegian Sea and its inhospitable coastline. For the sector in this country, the welfare of the fish is very important. All of Norway’s ocean aquaculture facilities are sustainable and have enough space for fish to move freely, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council.
In fact, only 2.5% of the volume of marine farms is occupied by fish, while 97.5% is reserved for water. To this is added the absolute traceability, which provides total peace of mind to consumers about the quality of the raw material. Norwegian aquaculture began in the 1970s, the year in which the first Norwegian salmon were raised in oceans in floating cages. To this day, the Norwegians continue to use their experience and know-how in ethology, marine biology and technology to guarantee the food safety of products and the future of the sector. In addition, strict measures have been applied to ensure that the sector develops while respecting ecosystems.
“Since the start-up of our first salmon farms 40 years ago, Norwegian aquaculture methods have developed rapidly. Today, thanks to close cooperation between scientists and technicians, progress is being made so that other species, such as cod and the Balder fish, are suitable for aquaculture”, remarks the director.
“Examples of this, the fjord trout and aquaculture cod, whose production systems have been developed thanks to advanced aquaculture methods cultivated in farms installed in open water and fed with feed specifically formulated to produce meat of the highest quality. Stabel adds.
Thus, the world population faces an extreme risk of food shortages. The Oceans may have part of the solution to one of the great problems that Humanity will face and Norway can contribute to exporting its model based on innovation, sustainability and excellence.
The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) reports directly to the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and is responsible for publicizing the differential values of national benchmarks. The NSC is headquartered in Tromsø and has local offices in 12 of the world’s largest Norwegian seafood markets: Sweden, Germany, UK, France, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Japan, China, Singapore and the USA. apart from Spain.
More information and recipes with fish and shellfish from Norway: https://mardenoruega.es/recetas/
Contact
Contact name: Tactics Europe
Contact description: Norwegian Seafood Council
Contact phone: 915062860
Images
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Caption: Norway, world leader in aquaculture Author: Norwegian Sea
