The Role of the Water Farmer in the Future of food security
Looking to the Ocean - The Role of the Water Farmer in the Future of Food Security
How we feed a growing population in a way that is nutritious, sustainable and economically viable is an increasing challenge. The importance of ocean food production systems in our future food and nutritional security is paramount to our future. The effort represents a dual message of urgency and hope. Fish and seafood can play a role in filling the gap. Through smarter management of wild fisheries and the sustainable development of marine aquaculture (mariculture), the ocean could supply over six times more food than it does today, while helping restore the health of ocean ecosystems. We hope that the conversation we had with Andrew Zimmern spurred responsive action from you, our water farmers, distribution partners, government agencies and beyond.
This pandemic has had a rippling affect across the fish and seafood sector. An industry that has a large proportion of its income tied to food service. Unlike other ingredients, 75% of fish and seafood was eaten outside of the home. We are one of the lowest per capita consumers of fish and seafood in spite of the fact that we produce nearly 5.5 million tons of fish and seafood in the U.S. per year. The United States is the largest net seafood importer in the world with nearly a 62-65% trade deficit. This is what motivated President Trump to sign an executive order on the May 7th.
Our conversation, led by Andrew Zimmern, highlighted the fact that sustainable domestic aquaculture can play a significant role in helping bring greater availability of fish and seafood to vulnerable communities. Communities that desperately need access to the essential nutritional benefits of seafood. At present, aquaculture only contributes 8% of total fish and seafood either reared or caught in the U.S. We are ranked 16th in the world in aquaculture production. Done poorly, aquaculture can damage sensitive ecosystems, disrupt communities, and pose a threat to human health; done well, it can be a force for ecological, economical and social good. As you can see, there are huge efforts being made to help build sustainable aquaculture systems in the United States. Action and collaboration will be required to ensure that this relatively new effort can scale, meet its challenges head on while providing our country with a balance of wild caught and sustainably raised fish from U.S. waters. We can see great examples of how this works when seen through the lens of our heritage oyster farmers, trout farmers and more. Human spirit is the ability to face uncertainty with curiosity and innovation in an effort to create the most sustainable solution. We believe that we can tackle food injustice through greater access to fish and seafood, specifically ethical aquaculture.
Attached below are the links to our farmers and the article that Andrew referenced by Haley Froelich and others called "Securing a Sustainable Future for US Seafood in the Wake of a Global Crisis”. Finally, we must thank Sophie’s Neighborhood for bringing us together. Andrew generously donated a 30 minute zoom cooking class or conversation with him to their virtual auction earlier this summer. Jennifer bid on the auction item. After receiving the winning bid, she asked Andrew to expand the 30 minutes to one hour and then lead a public conversation on Aquaculture. Please donate to this important cause if you can!
Our amazing panelists:
Pacifico Aquaculture - True Striped Bass - Baja, California
www.pacificoaquaculture.com - Chris Cumming, Senior Sales ManagerOpen Blue Cobia - Cobia - Panama
www.openblue.com - Laurel Raffan, Director of Business developmentKauai Shrimp - Shrimp - Hawaii
www.kauaishrimp.com - Mike Turner, Director of DevelopmentKvarøy Arctic - Salmon - Arctic Circle
www.kvaroyarctic.com - Alf-Gøran Knutsen, CEO of Kvarøy ArcticIdeal Fish - Branzino - Connecticut
www.idealfish.com - James MacKnight, Sales and Marketing DirectorAndrew Zimmern - Four-time James Beard award-winning TV personality, chef, writer, teacher and social justice advocate
Jennifer Bushman - James Beard Nominated chef, author and strategic development consultant for ethical aquaculture
Article that Andrew referenced:
Securing a Sustainable Future for US Seafood in the Wake of a Global Crisis
AUTHORS
• Halley Froehlich
• Rebecca Gentry
• Sarah E. Lester
• Richard Cottrell
• Gavin Fay
• Trevor A. Branch
• Jessica Gephart
• Easton White
• Julia K. Baum
Sophie’s Neighborhood:
Sophie’s Neighborhood is a nonprofit organization founded in response to Sophie Feder Rosenberg’s diagnosis of Multicentric Carpotarsal Osteolysis (MCTO) Syndrome. Sophie was misdiagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis for a year until the correct diagnosis was discovered through Whole Exome Sequencing, one of the most extensive genetic tests available. In a matter of a moment, our understanding of Sophie’s condition went from being within a large subset of children with a very treatable disorder - arthritis - to suddenly being one in 30 with a crippling, life-altering disease that has no treatment or cure.