FAO Highlights Importance of Fisheries and Aquaculture at G20 Meeting in Brazil
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) emphasized the importance of fisheries and aquaculture at the G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting in Mato Grosso, Brazil. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu highlighted the need for sustainable growth in these sectors to meet rising global food demand and address nutritional deficiencies, especially in developing countries.
QU Dongyu stated, “The FAO Blue Transformation strategy aims to ensure aquatic food systems continue feeding the world’s growing population.”
The G20 Agriculture Working Group Ministerial Declaration, agreed upon this week, officially recognized FAO’s Blue Transformation Roadmap 2022-2030 as a key framework for achieving long-term sustainability in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The declaration also highlighted important FAO instruments, such as the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture, the Guidelines for Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries, and the Agreement on Port State Measures.
Aquatic foods currently provide more than 3.3 billion people with at least 20 percent of their average per capita animal protein intake, along with critical bioavailable micronutrients. Aquaculture is also the world’s fastest-growing food production sector, supporting around 600 million livelihoods. The total first sale value of the sector was a record USD 472 billion in 2022.
QU Dongyu added, “FAO looks forward to working with G20 members in a Blue Transformation and in the lead-up to the 2025 UN Oceans Conference.”
Doubts Revealed
FAO -: FAO stands for the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. It helps countries improve their agriculture, forestry, and fisheries to ensure everyone has enough food.
G20 -: The G20 is a group of 20 major economies, including countries like India, the USA, and China. They meet to discuss and solve global economic problems.
Aquaculture -: Aquaculture is like farming, but instead of growing crops, people raise fish and other water animals and plants. It’s important for providing food and jobs.
Director-General QU Dongyu -: QU Dongyu is the head of the FAO. He helps guide the organization in its mission to improve food and agriculture worldwide.
Sustainable growth -: Sustainable growth means developing in a way that meets our needs without harming the environment or using up resources for future generations.
Blue Transformation Roadmap 2022-2030 -: This is a plan created by the FAO to make fisheries and aquaculture more sustainable and efficient from 2022 to 2030.
Aquatic foods -: Aquatic foods are foods that come from water, like fish, shrimp, and seaweed. They are important for nutrition and livelihoods.
Livelihoods -: Livelihoods refer to the ways people earn money to live, like jobs or businesses. In this context, it means the jobs and incomes of people working in fisheries and aquaculture.