UN award shows the importance of passing on knowledge, says aquaculture society
A recent award from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN FAO) underscores the importance of the World Aquaculture Society’s role in the development of sustainable aquaculture globally, the society has said.
The WAS, which organises several scientific conferences across the world annually in collaboration with its regional chapters, received the Global Technical Recognition certificate from the FAO last month.
WAS was among a number of bodies that received recognition for their roles in advancing sustainable aquatic food systems, or other food systems.
“[The award] reaffirms WAS’ role as a global leader in fostering enhanced international communications, collaborations, education, and information exchange on aquaculture,” the society said in a press release. “This has been important to FAO’s programme of work on aquaculture for several decades, since the 1970s.”
First awards ceremony
The award was presented by FAO director-general Dr Qu Dongyu, a former vice minister of agriculture for China, at the FAO’s first ever Technical Global Recognition awards ceremony, at the FAO headquarters in Rome.
It was accepted by Blessing Mapfumo, executive officer of the WAS African Chapter, on behalf of Dr Antonio Garza D Yta, the WAS-FAO global liaison.
Other organisations recognised in the category included the Global Seafood Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification scheme, New Zealand fish farmer Akaroa King Salmon, marine ingredients organisation IFFO, and WorldFish, a leading international research organisation working to improve food security, nutrition, and livelihoods through aquatic food systems that are sustainable, equitable, and inclusive.
Sustainable aquatic food systems was one of six categories for which the recognition awards were given. The other catagories were: sustainable livestock transformation, One Health, animal health, and Reference Centres; South-South and Triangular Cooperation; Land, soil, and water resource management for resilient agriculture and food security; sustainable forest production and protection; and sustainable plant production and protection.
