Mississippi State University (MSU) has been granted a five-year extension, amounting to up to $15 million, for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish.
Mississippi State University (MSU) has been granted a five-year extension, amounting to up to $15 million, for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish. This initiative aims to address the challenges of global food security through advancements in aquatic food systems.
Dina Esposito, Feed the Future Deputy Coordinator and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant to the Administrator for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security, emphasized the critical role of Innovation Labs in finding innovative solutions to today’s complex challenges. She expressed USAID’s commitment to this partnership, recognizing the Fish Innovation Lab’s vital contribution to supporting small-scale fishers and their communities.
Funded by USAID as part of Feed the Future, a U.S. government initiative for global hunger and food security, the Fish Innovation Lab focuses on reducing poverty and enhancing nutrition, food security, and livelihoods in partner countries.
It achieves this by championing research on sustainable aquatic food systems, and it operates under the leadership of MSU’s Global Center for Aquatic Health and Food Security.
President Mark E. Keenum commended this extension as a significant milestone in MSU’s history of excellence in aquaculture programs.
He applauded the dedicated team of personnel and partner organizations for their commendable efforts in improving aquatic health and nutrition worldwide. He looks forward to witnessing the ongoing impact of this initiative over the next five years and beyond.
The second phase of the Fish Innovation Lab, building on the initial $15 million funding and five years of research and capacity development, extends until 2028 (subject to fund availability). New activities will prioritize climate-smart innovations in aquatic systems, nutrition, food systems, and inclusive access to enhanced inputs like fish feed and seed. The lab will maintain its focus on priority countries such as Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia.
Dr. Mark Lawrence, director of the Fish Innovation Lab and William L. Giles Distinguished Professor in MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, emphasized the immense potential of aquatic food systems in supporting global food security goals.
He stated that under MSU’s leadership, this extension will enable the lab to conduct critical research activities addressing pressing developmental challenges. This initiative will harness the power of aquatic foods for a healthier planet and population.
The lab will initiate a competitive selection process to identify a new portfolio of research activities. By creating a consortium of public and private organizations, government agencies, universities, and aquaculture and fisheries associations, it will serve as an innovation platform to address promising advances and emerging challenges in aquatic food systems.
The lab’s activities will enhance food safety and nutrition, improve aquatic food production systems, boost trade and domestic market opportunities, ultimately enhancing nutrition and livelihoods for households and small-scale producers in partner countries.
The lab’s initial five-year research portfolio encompassed 24 activities across 10 countries, with a primary focus on Africa and Asia. Seven activities were led by 14 MSU faculty members across seven departments.
MSU’s global recognition for its expertise in aquatic health has earned it a designation by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as one of five global Reference Centers on Antimicrobial Resistance and Aquaculture Biosecurity.