Egypt’s aquaculture boost from WorldFish climate-smart tech centre
WorldFish and the Norwegian Embassy in Cairo have announced a new 4 year collaboration aimed to support renewable energy for Egypt's aquaculture industry, the Center for Renewable Energy in Aquaculture (CeREA),
The new Center aims to refine, test and scale innovative renewable energy solutions for Egypt's fish farmers – as well as increase the incomes of 5,000 fish producers, processors and other fish value chain actors.
Norwegian commitment to "climate-smart" food value chains
Funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Cairo until 2027, the initiative reflects Norway's commitment to enhancing nutrition, promoting job and value creation and empowering local fish value chain actors with climate-smart technologies, the project partners said in a press statement. A particular focus is small- and medium-scale fish farmers in Africa.
"The project will enable 5,000 fish producers, processors and other fish value chain actors to increase their productivity and incomes, leading to a reduction in food waste and loss and promoting the transformation to more energy-efficient and climate-smart food value chains, said H.E. Hilde Klemetsdal, Norway's Ambassador to Egypt.
"The project is a prime example of an initiative that aligns with Norway's development cooperation priorities. I am very pleased to see so many important and timely elements, including food security, climate adaptation and gender equality addressed in one program."
WorldFish in support of Egyptian and African "blue food" security
CeREA marks a new step in WorldFish's support of the Egyptian aquaculture and fisheries sector. In 1998 it launched a research and training center at Abbassa in Sharkia, focusing on fish genetics and research capacity, aiming to "transform Egypt into a role model for sub-Sharan African aquaculture development", according to a WorldFish statement. The new Center will also be based at the Abbassa site.
WorldFish says that to maximize the impact of CeREA, it intends to work closely with a wide range of partners, both national and international, ranging from research institutions and universities to the private sector.
"We firmly believe that sustainable development of aquatic food systems holds immense potential in addressing global food security challenges," said Essam Yassin Mohammed
WorldFish Director General.
"Through CeREA and our partnership with Norway, we strive to put aquaculture on a low-emission development pathway for healthier people and planet."
CeREA to be a "flagship" of African aquaculture innovation
WorldFish intends CeREA to become flagship initiative of its Fish for Africa Innovation Hub (FAIH), which aims to generate 6 million new jobs in African aquaculture by 2030 while promoting climate adaptation, gender equity, and food and nutrition security.
"CeREA is a unique collaboration expected to catalyze the emergence of a cadre of Egyptians who can effectively tackle some of the most critical and complex development challenges in Egypt and Africa using an evidence-based approach," said Ahmed Nasr-Allah, WorldFish Country Director for Egypt.
The official signing of the agreement at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Cairo was witnessed by Arild Øksnevad, Counselor and Head of Development and Business Cooperation, and Eithar Soliman, Development Cooperation Advisor at the Embassy of Norway in Cairo, as well as WorldFish Egypt's Finance Manager Sameh Ahmed, and Menna Mosbah, Gender Expert and Communications Representative for WorldFish in Egypt.
