Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway

The challenge for sustainable aquatic food systems

Aquatic food systems are essential to providing a growing global population with sustainable and climate-resilient sources of food, nutrition and livelihoods. Aquatic foods supply nutrition to over 3.2 billion people and support the livelihoods of over 600 million people, the majority of whom work in small-scale systems. However, the coastal communities and habitats at the heart of these food systems are under serious threat. Climate change is undermining the productivity and sustainability of aquatic food systems in various ways, including ocean warming and acidification, rising sea levels and saline incursion. The ocean is also under assault from over exploitation and pollution, causing a loss in marine biodiversity. Amid these challenges, countries are keen to unlock their blue economy as a rapid growth path. Enabling the development of sustainable and resilient aquatic food systems is, therefore, critical to ensure a food- and nutrition-secure future for coastal communities and to equitably improve livelihoods, while restoring our marine resources.

Working towards a solution: Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway project overview

Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS) harnesses South–South collaboration to assess, adapt and scale evidence-based innovations and models for delivering nature-positive impact through aquatic food systems. Implemented by WorldFish in collaboration with a host of partners, AABS aims to transform the livelihoods of coastal communities across Asian and African countries, particularly for women and youth, and help restore marine and coastal ecosystems by developing sustainable and resilient aquatic food systems. Funded by UK International Development under the Blue Planet Fund, AABS is being implemented in two phases over seven years (2023–2030). Phase 1 which over four years will be implemented in Bangladesh, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania aiming to reach over 300,000 primary beneficiaries, at least 50% of them women and youth, and over 400,000 secondary beneficiaries.

Key project focus areas

AABS is framed around four synergistic work packages:

Digital Coasts - Co-creating and scaling contextualized digital information systems for small-scale fisheries
Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture - Adapting and implementing Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture tailored to local contexts in Asia and Africa
Climate-Smart Technologies for Reducing Aquatic Food Waste and Loss - Scaling affordable and accessible climate-smart food preservation, processing and storage technologies to reduce aquatic food loss and waste
Incentives for Marine Conservation and Fisheries Management - Assessing, strengthening and scaling incentives for coastal conservation and sustainable fisheries management

The importance of South-South knowledge exchange

South–South collaboration on the four work packages is underpinned by a country-to-country knowledge exchange network — a forum to convene experts, implementers and decision-makers from across the target countries to share challenges and solutions and learn from each other in an interactive and participatory way. The exchange among countries will provide stakeholders access to practical ‘how-to’ knowledge of implementing technologies, offering a unique space to connect with peers in other countries. It will also enable the co-creation of actionable knowledge products and spawn new ideas and innovations in a country-led environment, which can transcend beyond the project scope for greater cross-cutting returns.

Supporting global goals

AABS aligns its objectives with key global frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement, and the African Union’s priorities on food systems transformation. The project specifically targets SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).