AFRICA – Mississippi State University (MSU) is amplifying its global impact through the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Managed by MSU’s Global Center for Aquatic Health and Food Security, the lab has launched a US$600,000 portfolio of six innovative one-year activities to bolster food security and reduce poverty in Asia and Africa through enhanced fish production.
These initiatives, termed Startup and Scaling Activities, will focus on four countries—Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria, and Zambia.
Two of the projects are building upon successful programs from the lab’s first five-year phase, while four introduce novel approaches to enhancing aquaculture and fisheries.
Mark Lawrence, the lab director and a distinguished professor in MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, emphasised the importance of combining experienced and new teams.
“Our goal is to scale up previously developed innovations and foster new ideas by integrating fresh teams into the Fish Innovation Lab community of practice,” he explained.
The initiatives reflect the lab’s commitment to addressing food security challenges using diverse methods:
– In Bangladesh, efforts are centred on improving carp biosecurity to enhance fish production.
– Kenya’s program integrates agriculture and aquaculture with climate-smart practices, advancing sustainable farming techniques.
– In Zambia, a project builds on earlier research to promote fish powder as a complementary food product.
Led by Kathleen Ragsdale, a research professor at MSU’s Social Science Research Center, this initiative aims to improve household nutrition—particularly for infants and young children—while providing food safety education.
Stephen Reichley, the lab’s deputy director and an MSU assistant professor, highlighted these initiatives’ broader impact.
“Each activity uniquely contributes to improving livelihoods and food security through aquatic foods. We are excited to see these efforts benefit farmers, fishers, and consumers in Asia and Africa.”
The Startup and Scaling Activities combine cutting-edge research, capacity building, and local community engagement to transform aquaculture and fisheries in partner countries.
These programs exemplify the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish’s mission to foster sustainable solutions, ensuring nutritious aquatic foods are central to reducing global hunger and poverty.
The success of these activities will reinforce MSU’s position as a leader in international research and development. They will also demonstrate the power of collaborative, innovation-driven approaches to addressing critical global challenges.
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