Starting in 2021, we are just at the beginning of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030, capturing several societal objectives including, a clean ocean, a healthy and resilient ocean, a predictable ocean, a safe ocean, a sustainably harvested and productive ocean and a transparent and accessible ocean. Furthermore we are halfway in the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016-2025, being a commitment of the members of the United Nations to undertake 10 years of sustained and coherent implementation of policies, programs and increased investments to eliminate malnutrition in all its forms, everywhere and without leaving anyone behind. Food from the Arctic has great potential to contribute significantly to reach the objectives targeted in the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition 2016-2025 and the objectives of the UN decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development are key to ensure sustainable food production systems from the ocean in the future.
The ocean is unquestionable a pillar of life, as well as an under-recognized provider of nutritious food and livelihoods. This especially applies to the Arctic with its great potential to contribute to sustainable food production. Increased global availability and consumption of aquatic food may prevent hidden hunger, malnutrition and help combat non-communicable diseases and thereby help to establish food security. Aquatic foods are also very important contributors to the ongoing dietary proteins shift, where today an exchange of red meat in favor of green protein sources has been the dominating trend. The micronutrient profile and bioavailability of “blue” proteins is however far stronger than for many green alternatives, calling for a more diverse protein shift to avoid e.g. expansion of iron deficiency.
Thus, it is timely to start a discussion on how to increase the food production, including from the Arctic, to contribute to food security and nutrition, locally and globally, and at the same time preserving the integrity of the marine ecosystem. The food produced needs to be safe, nutritious, accessible and culturally acceptable. As food insecurity amongst Arctic populations is high, we also need to consider how harvesting in the Arctic can feed the Arctic people.
The potential of an increased seafood production may include, but not be limited, to the harvest and aquaculture of low-trophic organisms, better utilization of small pelagic species in food production, exploitation of new marine resources for either direct human consumption or to enhance the marine biomass in fish feed.
Future sustainable food production systems include feed and food from land and sea, and we also need to establish commonly accepted methods to assess the total footprint of the various products from the ocean.
This session will examine food from the Arctic and evaluate the potential for an increase in production and harvest. What are the main opportunities and challenges? How can the production of food from the ocean be increased/sustained whilst not interfering with ocean health? We invite authors to submit abstracts addressing one or several of the following topics or issues:
The session committee considers arranging a special issue or collection of articles in one of the thematic high-impact peer-reviewed journals (e.g., Food security) in conjunction with the session. Abstract submitters had a chance to indicate their intention to contribute to the special issue. More information about this will be available at a later stage.
A detailed program of the session is presented below, and is based on abstracts accepted ahead of the Arctic Frontiers 2022 conference initially planned for 31 Jan - 3 Feb 2022. The program is subject to modifications after the registration deadline for presenters, which was set on 11 April.
All attendees to Arctic Frontiers are invited to the Researcher's Reception, hosted by the Norwegian Polar Institute, on Sunday 8th May at 20:00. Join us in the Fram Centre's Lysgården (atrium) for an evening of light entertainment, food, drinks, professional exchange and socialising. If you want to attend, please email to jenny@arcticfrontiers.com
Guidelines for oral presentations and posters is available here.
A step-by-step instruction on how to set up your virtual science booth is available here.
The Arctic Frontiers Administration is located at the Fram Centre in Tromsø, Norway. The Administration is responsible for day to day operations and for the organisation of the annual conference, and reports to the Board of Arctic Frontiers.
The secretariat is led by Anu Fredrikson.
General: