Demystifying the nutritional power of aquatic foods

The Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, is a global pledging moment for nutrition hosted every four years by the Paralympic/Olympic host country. Hosted by the Government of France on 27-28 March 2025, the N4G Paris aims to put nutrition at the center of the sustainable development agenda, make the fight against all forms of malnutrition a universal cause, create continuity between N4G summits and in the commitments for good nutrition, and mobilize ambitious new political and financial commitments for nutrition.

Demystifying the nutritional power of aquatic foods

This hybrid side event highlighted how diverse aquatic foods can address malnutrition and its impacts like stunting while supporting sustainable and equitable food systems, highlighting aquatic food’s scalable role as a key source of essential nutrients.

We were honored to have Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Marianne Sivertsen Næss, open our event with a prerecorded message. Environmental Defense Fund’s Vice President for Fisheries & Oceans, Kate Bonzon, highlighted the critical role of aquatic foods in global nutrition.

Our keynote speaker, Shakuntala Thilsted, 2021 World Food Prize Laureate, shared insights from her pioneering work on aquatic foods.

A distinguished panel of experts—from policy, science, youth advocacy, and small-scale fisheries—explored the role of blue foods in food security and nutrition. The discussion concluded with a call to action from Dr. Andreas Schaumayer of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), linking our insights to the Nutrition for Growth Summit.

The event was organized as a collaboration among the Aquatic Blue Food Coalition, Global Action Network, Meridian Institute, Walton Family Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Global Seaweed Coalition, Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, Oceana, and WorldFish.

Event speakers included:

• Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy
• Kate Bonzon, Vice President Fisheries & Oceans, Environmental Defense Fund
• Shakuntala Thilsted, 2021 World Food Prize Laureate and Director for the Nutrition, Health and Food Security Impact Area Platform at CGIAR
• Manuel Barange, Food and Agriculture Organization’s Assistant Director General and Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division
• Proscovia Alando, Founder of the Samaky Hub in Kenya
• Wanjiku Gichohi, Senior Scientist and Impact Area Lead – Nutrition and Public Health, WorldFish
• Diaba Diop, President of the Network of Women in Artisanal Fisheries (REFEPAS) in Senegal
• Ambassador Dandy Satria Iswara, Deputy Minister for Maritime Resources of Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs
• Dr. Andreas Schaumayer, Head of Division, Division 123 – Food and nutrition security, fisheries of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)