Rising incomes, changing diets, and increasing global population have made the livestock and aquaculture sectors one of the fastest-growing agricultural subsectors in middle- and low-income countries.
The increase in meat, fish and dairy consumption is leading to significant sustainability challenges–including a rise in greenhouse gas emissions, an increase in land conversion, more risks of deforestation and loss of biodiversity. There are also concerns related to the production of fish, meat and dairy, such as biosecurity, animal welfare, and antimicrobial use.
In response to the growing demand for proteins and these sustainability challenges, it is imperative that both the public sector and industry follow a sustainable growth path.
IFC’s approach to investing in aquaculture companies is based on identifying and supporting sustainability in companies’ activities, and we recognize that the best way is through specific practices that enhance animal health and welfare, protect the environment, promote food safety, and respect relevant regulations and laws.
IFC is the first major financial institution globally to come to the market with a clear position on what constitutes a sustainable investment in animal protein production--a sector where financial intermediaries are facilitating an estimated $USD100bn of investment each year.
Through its investments, IFC has proven that sustainability can be a driver for better financial performance and is keen to share its set of practices in investing in aquaculture operations both with policy makers and with peer financial institutions.