At the same time he asked the major aquaculture companies represented at this global conference to continue to look beyond their bottom line and to share knowledge and partner with the small fish farmers in developing countries. Success for aquaculture in addressing global hunger needs that partnership between the small producers and the large companies, thus helping to make the inputs more affordable and enabling the small producers to export their products. If industry leaders do that, it will accelerate the reduction in hunger and lead to sustainable food production. He added that aquaculture also needs the facilitation of governments and support of society because we are currently struggling to feed seven billion people, and in 2050, there will be nine billion to feed.
Kofi Annan speaking at AquaVision 2012 (photo: Jan Inge Haga).
Small-scale production of fish can be located widely, in ponds as well as lakes and on the coast, and it can be integrated with water conservation. The farming of fish is about more than producing food, it is about good protein that provides excellent nutrition and generates a means of earning an income, resulting in economic development. It brings dignity and self-respect. In particular, women are often involved in these small scale enterprises which results in better nutrition for their children. Hunger and poor nutrition damage health and inhibit development and growth, which leads to continuing failure. He quoted the example of Malawi where introducing fish ponds on small farms increased income by 60 per cent.
Kofi Annan congratulated the industry for its focus on improving sustainability, with initiatives such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, but also asked for more attention to the potential long-term impacts of climate change of increasing productivity in conditions to come, in the developing countries as well as the developed world. Reviewing the industry’s current approach to improving productivity and sustainability, he commented; "I do not ask you to change direction, but I ask you to accelerate progress. We need to work together if we are to overcome world hunger."
AquaVision 2012 was attended by the maximum capacity of 430 registered delegates from around 33 countries. Organised by Skretting and Nutreco since 1996, AquaVision is now established as a world-class conference that attracts a diverse range of stakeholders to Stavanger every two years.