A virtual discussion exploring innovative aquatic food system solutions for achieving a more sustainable, inclusive, resilient post-pandemic economy.

Date: Monday, 3 May 2021

Time: 15:30-17:00 (UTC+8)

Watch the event recording:

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is hosting their 54th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors from Monday to Wednesday, 3-5 May 2021. In this side event co-hosted by the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF), financial institution leads, aquatic food research experts and civil society heads convened to present impactful initiatives from their respective coastal and marine sectors that can potentially shape COVID-19 recovery plans.

WorldFish’s Global Lead for Nutrition and Public Health, Dr. Shakuntala Thilsted, joined the panel of experts to discuss the potential of aquatic foods in achieving a “blue economy” that is more resilient to post-pandemic barriers, environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive, especially to poor and vulnerable communities in low- and middle- income countries. 

Dr. Thilsted provided examples on current aquatic food system approaches that are supporting healthier diets and ecosystems across WorldFish’s targeted regions to inform and steer policy, investments and action plans in line with ADB’s Action Plan for Healthy Oceans and Sustainable Blue Economies. 

 

Keynote Speaker:

  • Ingrid van Wees, Vice President for Finance and Risk Management, ADB

Panelists:

  • Rindah Melsen, President, Nusatuva Women’s Savings Club, Solomon Islands
  • Dr. Shakuntala Thilsted, Global Lead, Nutrition and Public Health, WorldFish
  • Anna R. Oposa, Executive Director, Save Philippine Seas
  • Alifereti Tawake, Council Chair and Technical Advisor, Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) Network International
  • Christian Kettel Thomsen, Vice President, European Investment Bank (EIB)

Moderator:

  • Natalie Phaholyothin, CEO, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Thailand

 

To learn more about the outcomes of the event, read the speech by Ingrid van Wees, the Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management, ADB.

Follow WorldFish and the hashtag #aquaticfoods to check out past conversations on Twitter.