FUTUREFISH seeks to advance knowledge, innovation, and investment to improve aquaculture in Africa and Asia. The company mission is to unleash the potential of smallholder-led aquaculture with business solutions that supply affordable, nutritious food for healthy people and the planet, by connecting insights and innovations with networks and investments for a sustainable food system.
FUTUREFISH works closely with innovators and investors to find business opportunities in marginalised aquaculture value chains that can create positive impacts for livelihoods, communities and the environment. The company draws upon an extensive network of partners – research, innovators, industry, and donors – as it seeks to identify innovations, bring the right partners together, and build profitable aquaculture businesses that enhance social and environmental sustainability. During 2022 and 2023, the company has been exploring aquaculture in Africa with various partners.
FUTUREFISH joined the Aqua-Spark-led small informal group of interested organizations and investors who have been working together to share knowledge and experience of aquaculture in Sub-Saharan Africa. This group aims to identify investment, finance, and support opportunities for African aquaculture businesses to grow, as well as suggest how governments can create a better enabling environment for sustainable aquaculture businesses and attract private investment and financing. FUTUREFISH implemented the group’s methodology to collate the business and opportunities in Ghana into one open-access directory. The programme leant on an on-going project in Ghana, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, to establish a Blue Foods Partnership Multi-Stakeholder Platform making-up of a network of Ghanaian and global businesses.
In collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the business case for investing in smallholder aquaculture and the opportunities for closer pre-competitive cooperation among industry groups are being explored. A CEO Dialogue is being planned for AFRAQ23 in Lusaka - a closed-door roundtable discussion to explore what the future of African aquaculture looks like, and how pioneer companies in the sector can take a proactive lead in developing an evolutionary path forward for the sector. Unpacking the sector’s environmental, social, and financial challenges are a central theme of this discussion, to work towards a goal of collaboratively deepening the business case for sustainable aquaculture growth.