Seaweed dialogue: Current status of the industry, markets, demand, emerging trends, and technological advancement for seaweed products
2024-09-19 12:00 - 13:30 UTC | Rome, Italy
BackgroundFAO GLOBEFISH, a project supported by multiple donors and operating under the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI), was established in 1984 with the primary objective of providing analyses about the trade and market of fisheries and aquaculture products. It also aimed to foster and facilitate the exchange of information among the industry, governments, academia, and other stakeholders on a global scale. In its journey, FAO GLOBEFISH has achieved greater international coordination by establishing the FISHINFONetwork, which linkssix regionalnetworksacross 85 countries. These units– INFOPESCA, INFOFISH, INFOPÊCHE, INFOSAMAK, EUROFISH, and INFOYU – started as FAO projects, delivering technical capacity-building services to their member countries and the industry in their regions. They also organize periodical global trade and technical events, where FAO GLOBEFISH regularly participates, fostering a sense of globalconnection and collaboration.FAO GLOBEFISH stands out for its unparalleled 40-year support to the sector, which has resulted in tangible impacts across all regions. Its commitment and extensive experience have enabled it to be constantly present in the ever-changing global fisheries and aquaculture landscape, advancing its activities with resilience and determination.Consistent with the overarching goal of the Blue Transformation, the FAO GLOBEFISH project promotes sustainable trade of fisheries and aquaculture products, thereby contributing to better access to aquatic food, particularly in areas where food supplies are scarce. FAO GLOBEFISH additionally provides assistance for the enhancement and growth of aquatic food value chains, including mitigating loss and waste, fostering transparency and traceability, supporting market access, and guaranteeing fair and inclusive returns for stakeholders. This multifaceted strategy helps to advance the United Nations 2030 Agenda and FAO’s four betters’ principles: better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life.One tool FAO GLOBEFISH utilizes to reach its goals is the production of regular publications providing market analysis on a wide range of species and markets, combining price information from multiple sources, including reviews on topical issues – the GLOBEFISH Highlights, the European Price Report, the GLOBEFISH Insights, and the Chinese Fish Price Report. In addition, the FAO GLOBEFISH Price Dashboard, a robust and user-friendly interface, displays periodic prices of fisheries and aquaculture products in Europe, which FAO GLOBEFISH monitors and updates weekly. The price dashboard and all publications are available on the FAO GLOBEFISH website (www.globefish.org). In addition to other updates related to trade and markets, import regulations and analysis of border rejections of the major importing markets, country profiles providing a snapshot of the sector in each country, and other trade and market-related information are also available.To commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the FAO GLOBEFISH project, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) of FAO will host a two-day event entitled “40 Years of the FAO GLOBEFISH Project: Key Highlights and Way Forward” on the 18 and 19 September 2024, at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.The 40th Anniversary celebration of the FAO GLOBEFISH project highlights and strengthens the significance of collaboration in the sector. Donors and partners are crucial in supporting FAO GLOBEFISH in its efforts to develop and disseminate market and trade information on fisheries and aquaculture products on a large scale.objectivesThe objectives of the event are:To discuss current and future trends in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, with a focus on the critical role of information in the development of business decisions and the formulation of county policies.To reinforce the importance of up-to-date trade and market information for the fisheries and aquaculture industry and the essential role of FAO GLOBEFISH and other units of the FISH INFONetwork in delivering such information.To highlight the importance of collaborative endeavors in the fisheries and aquaculture industry for the long-term preservation of resources, society, and the economy, as well as for the widespread dissemination of knowledge and information.To discuss future strategies of FAO GLOBEFISH and the FISH INFONetwork with a broader audience.ProgrammeModerator:Mr. David Vivas Eugui, Chief of Section a.i., Trade, Environment, Climate Change & Sustainable Development Branch, UNCTADKeynote speaker:Ms. Stefania Vannuccini, Senior Fishery Officer, FAOPanellists:Ms. Melanie Cueff, Research Engineer at the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and Scientific Officer to Global Seaweed CoalitionMs. Debra Sadranu, Managing Director, Essence of Fiji GroupMs. Hoa Doan, Head of Impact and Sustainability, NotplaMr. Nima Bahramalian, Industrial Development Expert, UNIDO Interactive Session and Q&A
Background

FAO GLOBEFISH, a project supported by multiple donors and operating under the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI), was established in 1984 with the primary objective of providing analyses about the trade and market of fisheries and aquaculture products. It also aimed to foster and facilitate the exchange of information among the industry, governments, academia, and other stakeholders on a global scale. In its journey, FAO GLOBEFISH has achieved greater international coordination by establishing the FISHINFONetwork, which linkssix regionalnetworksacross 85 countries. These units– INFOPESCA, INFOFISH, INFOPÊCHE, INFOSAMAK, EUROFISH, and INFOYU – started as FAO projects, delivering technical capacity-building services to their member countries and the industry in their regions. They also organize periodical global trade and technical events, where FAO GLOBEFISH regularly participates, fostering a sense of globalconnection and collaboration.

FAO GLOBEFISH stands out for its unparalleled 40-year support to the sector, which has resulted in tangible impacts across all regions. Its commitment and extensive experience have enabled it to be constantly present in the ever-changing global fisheries and aquaculture landscape, advancing its activities with resilience and determination.

Consistent with the overarching goal of the Blue Transformation, the FAO GLOBEFISH project promotes sustainable trade of fisheries and aquaculture products, thereby contributing to better access to aquatic food, particularly in areas where food supplies are scarce. FAO GLOBEFISH additionally provides assistance for the enhancement and growth of aquatic food value chains, including mitigating loss and waste, fostering transparency and traceability, supporting market access, and guaranteeing fair and inclusive returns for stakeholders. This multifaceted strategy helps to advance the United Nations 2030 Agenda and FAO’s four betters’ principles: better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life.

One tool FAO GLOBEFISH utilizes to reach its goals is the production of regular publications providing market analysis on a wide range of species and markets, combining price information from multiple sources, including reviews on topical issues – the GLOBEFISH Highlights, the European Price Report, the GLOBEFISH Insights, and the Chinese Fish Price Report. In addition, the FAO GLOBEFISH Price Dashboard, a robust and user-friendly interface, displays periodic prices of fisheries and aquaculture products in Europe, which FAO GLOBEFISH monitors and updates weekly. The price dashboard and all publications are available on the FAO GLOBEFISH website (www.globefish.org). In addition to other updates related to trade and markets, import regulations and analysis of border rejections of the major importing markets, country profiles providing a snapshot of the sector in each country, and other trade and market-related information are also available.

To commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the FAO GLOBEFISH project, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) of FAO will host a two-day event entitled “40 Years of the FAO GLOBEFISH Project: Key Highlights and Way Forward” on the 18 and 19 September 2024, at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

The 40th Anniversary celebration of the FAO GLOBEFISH project highlights and strengthens the significance of collaboration in the sector. Donors and partners are crucial in supporting FAO GLOBEFISH in its efforts to develop and disseminate market and trade information on fisheries and aquaculture products on a large scale.

objectives

The objectives of the event are:

- To discuss current and future trends in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, with a focus on the critical role of information in the development of business decisions and the formulation of county policies.
- To reinforce the importance of up-to-date trade and market information for the fisheries and aquaculture industry and the essential role of FAO GLOBEFISH and other units of the FISH INFONetwork in delivering such information.
- To highlight the importance of collaborative endeavors in the fisheries and aquaculture industry for the long-term preservation of resources, society, and the economy, as well as for the widespread dissemination of knowledge and information.
- To discuss future strategies of FAO GLOBEFISH and the FISH INFONetwork with a broader audience.

Programme

Moderator:

- Mr. David Vivas Eugui, Chief of Section a.i., Trade, Environment, Climate Change & Sustainable Development Branch, UNCTAD

Keynote speaker:

- Ms. Stefania Vannuccini, Senior Fishery Officer, FAO

Panellists:

- Ms. Melanie Cueff, Research Engineer at the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and Scientific Officer to Global Seaweed Coalition
- Ms. Debra Sadranu, Managing Director, Essence of Fiji Group
- Ms. Hoa Doan, Head of Impact and Sustainability, Notpla
- Mr. Nima Bahramalian, Industrial Development Expert, UNIDO

Interactive Session and Q&A
