[ad_1]
For immediate release: Wednesday September 15, 2021
Boston, MA – Some 166 million micronutrient deficiencies could be avoided by 2030 if global marine and freshwater food production increased by 15.5 million tonnes (8%), new research shows.
The study published by Nature highlighted several ways in which aquatic foods improve human health, including reducing micronutrient deficiencies and providing alternatives to red and processed meat, which are often associated with non-communicable diseases.
Produced as one of five original scientific papers for the Blue Food Rating (BFA), the research, entitled “Aquatic food to feed the nations ”, found that an increase in sustainable aquatic food production through investments in aquaculture and better fisheries management would lower prices by 26%, making fish and seafood more affordable for people low income people around the world.
“We live in a deeply malnourished world, with billions of people suffering from micronutrient deficiencies and chronic diet-related illnesses,” said the lead author. Christophe Doré, assistant professor of nutrition and planetary health at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. “Finding ways to sustainably increase the production of blue foods offers an opportunity to improve access to safe, nutritious and healthy diets for the world’s most vulnerable. “
Aquatic foods offer developing countries the opportunity to improve their diets without incurring the negative health risks associated with the meat-intensive diets of richer countries, the authors said.
“Aquatic foods can be a potential route to nutritional equity,” said Zachary Koehn, early career researcher at the Center for Ocean Solutions at Stanford University. “Policy makers and development actors should take advantage of the availability of culturally appropriate and sustainably produced aquatic foods to reduce food insecurity and address malnutrition. “
The results are based on data from the Aquatic Food Composition Database (AFCD), which was developed to increase understanding of the potential nutritional benefits of aquatic foods. It is now the most comprehensive global database of its kind, featuring 3,753 aquatic food species and hundreds of nutrients, with important implications for nutrition policies and fisheries management around the world.
“For the first time, our study highlights the important role of aquatic foods in meeting the dietary needs of nutritionally vulnerable populations, while alleviating chronic disease by weaning people off red and processed meats,” Golden added. .
Photo: Daniel Lee / Unsplash
For more information:
Chris Sweeney
617.432.8416
[email protected]
Visit the Harvard Chan School website for the latest news, Press Releases, and multimedia offers.
###
The Blue Food Rating (BFA) is an international joint initiative bringing together more than 100 scientists from more than 25 institutions. Led by the Stockholm Resilience Center at Stockholm University, Stanford University, and TO EAT, the Blue Food Assessment helps decision-makers assess trade-offs and implement solutions to build healthy, equitable and sustainable food systems.
Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health brings together dedicated experts from many disciplines to educate new generations of global health leaders and generate powerful ideas that improve the lives and health of people everywhere. As a community of leading scientists, educators and students, we work together to bring innovative ideas from the lab to people’s lives, not only by making scientific breakthroughs, but also working to change the individual behaviors, public policies and health care practices. Each year, more than 400 faculty members at Harvard Chan School teach more than 1,000 full-time students around the world and train thousands more through online courses and executive training. Founded in 1913 as the Harvard-MIT School of Health Officers, the school is recognized as the oldest public health professional training program in the United States.
[ad_2]
Source link