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UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has granted funding to the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) as part of a crucial project researching the sustainability of mollusc aquaculture in southeast Asia.

Challenge

Mollusc aquaculture is the practice of raising molluscs, such as oysters, mussels, and clams for food, and produces 20 million tonnes (USD 29.8 billion) of live biomass annually. The industry supports marginal farming communities and export trade, with Asia accounting for more than 95% of activity. As molluscs are inexpensive and nutritionally rich, expanding the industry could enhance food security in southeast Asia. However, as a proportion of aquatic animal aquaculture, mollusc production has declined by nearly 10% since 2000. Producers are facing many challenges including climate change, disease, food safety and reliable access to high-quality seed. There are concerns about whether the industry can grow sustainably, and further research is needed to assess its viability.

Solution

The WAVES consortium, led by the University of Southampton, has been awarded funding by UKRI to support the equitable transition of mollusc aquaculture to more sustainable methods to enhance local food security and provide nutritional benefits for communities in southeast Asia.
The ºÚÁÏÉç will lead on research that will map the different systems of mollusc production in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia to provide a model for Asia more widely. This will include mapping the different stakeholders, relationships, influential factors, challenges and trends that make up current mollusc production. This will importantly provide both a visual and deep understanding of activities, livelihoods and climate change threats for mollusc producers in the regions.

Together the Consortium will then utilise this research to:
• Create a systems dynamic model and develop a scenario tool to forecast plausible futures for mollusc aquaculture.
• Generate data to support species diversification for climate resilience, promote hatchery development for a reliable supply of high-quality seed, and produce safe and nutritious food.
• Iterate and disseminate findings to develop context-sensitive roadmaps for future sustainable expansion of resilient mollusc aquaculture.

Impact      

This project creates a UK-Asia alliance of researchers at the forefront of mollusc farming development, making direct contributions to UN Sustainable Development Goals, including no hunger and decent work and economic growth for all. The research aims to establish new data that will provide vital information and encourage further investment in technology, farming operations and hatcheries in southeast Asia.

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