Blue foods are the new multi-faceted solution to global challenges. They refer to a diverse group of food items that come from aquatic sources. By promoting ocean, water, climate, and land sustainability, these foods can improve the world’s health and eliminate hunger.
Blue foods can include fish such as bluefin tuna, salmon, and sardines, as well as shellfish like shrimp, crab, and lobster. Blue foods also encompass certain types of algae like spirulina and chlorella, which are blue-green and are often used as dietary supplements. Additionally, aquatic plants like seaweed and kelp are considered blue foods.
Blue food has the potential to positively impact billions of people across the world. They can aid in improving global health, reducing hunger, increasing the sustainability of oceans, water, climate, and land, and reducing inequalities.
New research conducted by the Blue Food Assessment team of experts highlights the importance of blue foods in improving national food systems’ performance and sustainability. The research draws on a range of national data to identify the four key roles that aquatic foods can play in this regard.
Firstly, blue foods are rich in nutrients such as vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for human health. In many parts of the world, nutrient deficiencies are a significant public health concern, and blue foods offer a promising solution to address this issue.
Secondly, excessive consumption of red meat, particularly processed meat, has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Blue foods can be a healthier and more sustainable alternative to red meat.
Thirdly, the environmental impacts of food production are a growing concern, and the global demand for food is placing significant pressure on our natural resources. Blue foods offer a more sustainable food source, as they rely on aquatic ecosystems that have the potential to be managed more efficiently and effectively.
Finally, climate change is a pressing issue that is affecting our food systems, and it is essential to safeguard the contribution of blue food systems to nutrition, just economies, livelihoods, and cultures.
By promoting the consumption of blue foods, we can support climate adaptation and resilience, helping to ensure that our food systems are better equipped to cope with the challenges posed by a changing climate.
The team behind the Blue Food Assessment has created an online tool that allows users to explore the relevance of policy objectives around the world about nutrition, heart disease, environment, and climate resilience.
By customizing the parameters in the tool, decision-makers can discover the most pertinent blue food policies for their country and use the assessment as a source of inspiration to tackle environmental and nutritional challenges.
As Blue foods are the new multi-faceted solution to global challenges, stakeholders can contribute to a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food system. Ultimately, this can lead to improved health outcomes, greater food security, and a healthier planet for all.
Source: Blue Food Assessment
