Rich in protein and nutrients, fish are among the most traded agricultural commodities in the world. In developing countries, more than 2.6 billion people depend on some form of fish for more than 20% of their total animal protein.

The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish (FIL) supports and links research partners around the globe to identify, develop, and scale up promising methodologies and technologies for local fish farming systems, and to intensify and diversify major production systems where the poor and undernourished are concentrated. The integrated, cooperative, and multi-institutional research program cultivated by the FIL aims to produce applicable research results, increase the capacity of local partners, and support the adoption of new innovations.

Areas of Inquiry:

Advancing the productivity frontier:  Identify and develop scalable technologies and practices that will sustainably increase fish production, while prioritizing natural resource conservation and the needs of fishers and producers.

Reducing and mitigating risks to fish production systems: Identify and develop scalable technologies and practices that will reduce and mitigate risks to fish production systems, particularly through improved fish and environmental health.

Improving human outcomes:  Generate actionable evidence on how fish production systems can equitably improve economic opportunity and nutrition among vulnerable households in developing countries.

Target Countries:  Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, and other Feed the Future countries as determined.

Cross Cutting Themes:

To enhance the development impact of FIL research in our three program areas, we also incorporate essential cross-cutting themes into each funded project:

1.       Gender Equity and Youth Inclusion
2.       Nutrition
3.       Resilience
4.       Human and Institutional Capacity Development

Our approach:

• Engage U.S. and host country multidisciplinary experts in the development of research priorities so that our team and key stakeholders will solve problems using an integrated systems approach

• Focus research in strategic aquaculture and fisheries management zones to yield measurable indicators and sustainable impacts

• Engage experts on cross-cutting themes at all stages of project development, research, and analysis/dissemination

• Leverage private industry partnerships and mobile digital technologies

• Implement a balanced approach that considers both aquaculture and fisheries management