FAO and EU Launch €20 Million Initiative to Enhance Access to Aquatic Foods in Africa and Latin America
23 October 2025, Rome: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Union (EU) have launched a new €20 million initiative to improve access to safe and nutritious aquatic foods for vulnerable populations in Africa and Latin America, while driving innovation and sustainability in local aquatic value chains.
The project, titled New Aquatic Food Value Chains for Sustainable Healthy Diets in Fragile Contexts (NAVAC), will run from 2025 to 2030 in Chad, Colombia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and South Sudan. It is supported by the EU’s €20 million contribution and an additional $500,000 from FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme.
“NAVAC aims to expand the supply of sustainable, affordable, and nutritious aquatic foods to reach nutritionally vulnerable populations, while boosting local economies through Blue Transformation innovations,” said Godfrey Magwenzi, FAO Deputy Director-General.
Aquatic foods provide vital proteins and micronutrients to combat malnutrition, especially among children and pregnant or lactating women. Despite this, many national nutrition strategies underestimate the potential of aquatic resources to strengthen food security and improve public health outcomes.
Aligned with FAO’s Four Betters — Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life — NAVAC supports the organization’s Blue Transformation vision to make aquatic food systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.
“NAVAC promotes an integrated ‘net-to-plate’ approach that enhances food security, supports livelihoods, and strengthens environmental sustainability,” said Annette Schneegans, Deputy Permanent Representative of the European Union to FAO. “It also reflects the EU’s commitment to the Global Gateway strategy.”
The Global Gateway initiative focuses on addressing global challenges, including climate change, sustainable development, and resilient value chains across continents.
Implementation and Innovation
FAO will implement NAVAC in collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark and national partners in each participating country. In its initial phase, the project will assess existing aquatic food value chains to identify development gaps and opportunities for improvement. Based on these insights, NAVAC will design upgrading strategies to strengthen supply chains, enhance nutrition outcomes, and support local livelihoods.
The project will also explore innovative tools such as advanced biotechnologies and product development processes to ensure that nutritious aquatic foods reach vulnerable populations more effectively.
Also Read: The Quiet Power of Biostimulants: Missing Link in Regenerative Agriculture
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