WorldFish

WorldFish is an international, nonprofit research and innovation institution that creates, advances and translates scientific research on aquatic food systems into scalable solutions with transformational impact on human well-being and the environment. Its mission is focused on SDG 2: Zero Hunger but pays special attention to SDG 14: Life Below Water, leveraging both of these goals to score progress on other multiple SDGs. Research explores the potential of aquatic food systems as an important source of food and their role in the global transformation of food systems toward healthier and sustainable diets in the face of the climate crisis.

For over 45 years, WorldFish has firmly established itself as a global leader in research and innovation in sustainable and equitable aquatic food systems. Its work has enhanced the lives of millions of low- and middle-income people who depend on aquatic food systems for food, nutrition, livelihoods and overall well-being. Supported by a diverse network of funders and investors aligned to shared goals, it has a global presence in 20 countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific with 460 staff of 30 nationalities, deployed where the greatest sustainable development challenges can be addressed through holistic aquatic food systems solutions.

Efforts are centered on three crucial areas of impact: (1) Climate resilience and environmental sustainability (2) Social and economic inclusion, and (3) Nutrition and public health. Focus on food systems research takes into account the four dimensions of natural, produced, human and social capital in food systems, from production through to consumption. Research activities are structured around nine priority actions—three for each area of impact. These actions deliver measurable impacts through an integrated set of indicators that can evaluate and track progress toward the sustainability of diets and food systems.

Across disciplines and sectors, the approach to research and innovation connects and empowers women, men and young people for long-term change. Research and innovation span across climate change, food security and nutrition, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, the blue economy and ocean governance, OneHealth, genetics and AgriTech, and it integrates evidence and perspectives on gender, youth and social inclusion.

This transformative work is embedded within an innovation system of partners, stakeholders, networks, assets and institutions to turn research into demand-driven products, services and solutions at scale. This is critical to accelerating the speed of innovation in food, land and water systems to meet the increasing challenges of climate change, hunger, malnutrition, poverty, social inequality and environmental degradation.

WorldFish is part of One CGIAR, the world’s largest agricultural innovation network, whose mission is to “end hunger by 2030 through science to transform food, land and water systems under threat of climate change.” It is the only One CGIAR center dedicated to aquatic food systems for healthy people and a sustainable planet.