Welcoming the 'Foresight' report's focus on aquaculture

The report argues for fundamental change to the global food system and beyond if a rapidly expanding global population is to be fed over the next 40 years.

It claims that fish farming will have a major role to play in meeting supply and resource challenges ahead and will need to produce more with increased sustainability. Commenting on the potential scope of aquaculture, the report claims that global productivity in aquaculture typically could, with limited changes to inputs, be raised by around 40 per cent.

Leendert den Hollander, managing director, for Young's and Findus UK, said he welcomed the attention this report has brought to the issue of sustainable aquaculture.

“As an ongoing source of good quality protein, fish has an essential part to play in the healthy diet of the UK consumer. Fish farming will in future prove to be an essential component in the world's food supply as rising global population, climate change and environmental degradation highlight the potential fragility of long-term food security. So it's very important that we get the facts straight about aquaculture - so that everyone can continue to enjoy this healthy food in the knowledge that it can be responsibly farmed and sustainable.”