News

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Investigating Oysters’ Dietary Potential and Risks for Ghana’s Shellfishers

Oysters are an excellent source of iron and zinc, and women in low- and middle-income countries are often deficient in these two essential micronutrients. The Fish Innovation Lab project, called “Micronutrient Impact of Oysters in the Diet of Women Shellfishers,” aims to determine how much oysters contribute to iron and zinc in the diet of women shellfishers as well as inspect the possibility of heavy metal contamination.

Image Alternative Text: Fishermen on boats in a wetland

New Virtual Library of Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources

The Fish Innovation Lab has compiled a virtual library of aquaculture and fisheries resources. Stakeholders around the world can explore the library and find resources to inform their work and connect with others in the aquaculture and fisheries sectors.

Image Alternative Text: A cross section of participants in the Umuchima community in Ebonyi state came together during the ground-truth visit.

Ground-Truth Visits Inform Efforts to Promote Aquaculture as a Farm Diversification Strategy in Nigeria

The recent ground-truth visits to Ebonyi and Kebbi states of Nigeria helped to develop a knowledge base on agroecological wetlands suitable for integrated fish and rice farming.

Image Alternative Text: Bowl of fish-bean-vegetable soup on white lace tableloth

Fish-Bean-Vegetable Soup, Recipe From Zambia

The soup uses assorted powders, including one from small fish, and only requires a brief cooking period. Small fish are highly concentrated in several critical nutrients, and they can be environmentally sustainable and affordable as an animal-protein food.

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Quick Start Results, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps

In its first and second year, the Fish Innovation Lab funded five “Quick Start” activities. These were short (12-15 month) activities designed to kick-start the Fish Innovation Lab’s research-for-development activities on the ground.This document provides a summary of the accomplishments, lessons learned, and next steps of the five Quick Start activities.

Image Alternative Text: a man selling fish in a Dhaka fish market

Addressing Food Safety in Aquaculture Systems in Developing Countries

Globally over 600 million people, 1 in 10, suffers from foodborne diseases each year, and 420,000 people died in 2010. Practicing safe food preparation and storage strategies can help prevent this.

Image Alternative Text: Screenshot of participants during the virtual signing ceremony

A Partnership to Build Capacity, a Project to Build Sustainable Aquaculture in Cambodia

Three institutions - SEARCA, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and CE SAIN - have partnered together, so that a Cambodian student will join the Royal University of Agriculture to conduct research. Additionally, the agreement will support the Bighead Catfish Culture project in Cambodia.

Image Alternative Text: Elin Torell Belinda Richardson headshots

Fisheries Need Stronger Role in Food Policy and Food Security Planning

Fish Innovation Lab Deputy Director Elin Torell joins "The Leading Voices in Food" podcast at Duke University's World Food Policy Center to discuss the importance of recognizing fish in international food policy and development funding.

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2021 World Food Prize Awarded to Fish Innovation Lab Contributing Researcher Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted

On May 11, Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted was named the 2021 World Food Prize Laureate for her groundbreaking work on nutrition, fish, and aquatic food systems. Thilsted is the global lead for nutrition and public health at WorldFish and a contributing researcher to the Fish Innovation Lab’s FishFirst! Zambia project.

Image Alternative Text: Men in pond hold net full of carp

MSU-based Fish Innovation Lab awards $1.15 million in new grants, addresses global food security through improved aquaculture and fisheries

Building on the Fish Innovation Lab’s existing portfolio of 13 research-for-development projects worldwide, the newly awarded $1.15 million supports six projects spanning aquaculture and fisheries activities along the fish value chain in Bangladesh, Ghana, Malawi and Zambia.