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    Showing 9 of 96 news items in Water & Food
    Indigenous knowledge merges with science to protect people from fish poisoning in Vanuatu
    Water & FoodFebruary 25, 2025

    Indigenous knowledge merges with science to protect people from fish poisoning in Vanuatu

    Photo Credit: Wikimedia/Louisa Cass/AusAID, [CC BY-SA.](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Retrieved from phys.org [Ciguatera fish poisoning](https://www.rph.org.nz/public-health-topics/illness-and-disease/ciguatera-fish-poisoning/ciguatera-fish-poisoning-factsheet.pdf) is the world’s [most frequently reported](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2579736/) seafood-borne illness. It poses a serious health risk to tropical coastal communities, with some of the highest rates reported in Vanuatu. But now, Indigenous knowledge provides crucial insights for predicting [fish](https://phys.org/tags/fish/) poisoning outbreaks. Our [study](https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01931-5) documents a collaboration between scientists and Indigenous knowledge holders on Vanuatu’s Ambae island. It offers a powerful new model designed to protect people’s health in vulnerable regions. Ciguatera poisoning occurs when people eat fish contaminated with ciguatoxins produced by marine algae that accumulate in reef-feeding fish. Symptoms can range from nausea and muscle pain to severe neurological effects. In some cases, the poisoning can lead to serious illness or even death.

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    The fearless lionfish huntresses of the Caribbean
    Water & FoodFebruary 25, 2025

    The fearless lionfish huntresses of the Caribbean

    Photo Credit: Charmed Life Photography-Lisa Haynes. Retrieved from bbc.com Two women are working to save the coral reef from the invasive lionfish, using it as a sustainable teaching tool and cooking it into everything from tacos to fish and chips. Curacao is facing an ecological challenge: the invasive lionfish. The venomous lionfish have brown, red and white zebra-like stripes, fleshy tentacles and long, fan-like fins. They are native to the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, but sometime in the late 1980s they were introduced to the warm tropical waters off Florida’s Atlantic Coast. Although the exact cause of this is unknown, it’s theorised that they were [released](https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/lionfish.html) from marine aquariums. By the early 2000s, they had reached the Caribbean coastline and Curacao’s coral reef, where diving significantly [contributes](https://www.divenewswire.com/curacao-dive-industry-2020-vision-for-the-future/) to the local economy and employment. Lionfish are not a welcome species anywhere because they reproduce at an alarming rate; females release about [two million eggs per year](https://marinesanctuary.org/blog/creature-feature-lionfish/%23:~:text=Thanks%2520to%2520their%2520conspicuous%2520appearance,17,000%2520eggs%2520every%2520three%2520days.) and as they grow, they eat smaller native fish and marine life that protect coral reefs. This behaviour creates an imbalance that [disrupts the reef’s ecosystem](https://lionfishdivers.com/lionfish-are-damaging-our-underwater-environment/%23:~:text=significant%2520disruptions%2520of%2520the%2520coral%2520reef%2520ecosystems.). The presence of lionfish impacts both diving tourism and the commercial fishing industry, with [research showin](https://www.vetofish.com/sites/vetofish.com/files/actu/attachment/invasive_indo-pacific_lionfish_pterois_volitans_reduce_recruitment_of_atlantic_coral-reef_fishes.pdf)g that even in a short period of time, the presence of lionfish can reduce a native reef fish population by 79%. But what is problematic has become a catalyst for innovative adaptation and environmental responsibility. Through food, art and education, the unique but complicated relationship between Curacao and its lionfish is being tackled by two local women, Helmi Smeulders and Lisette Keus. Smeulders left her law career in the Netherlands in 1998 and relocated to Curacao, eventually becoming a chef, diver and conservationist. But what did a lawyer-turned-chef know about hunting the invasive lionfish, sustainable fishing and the importance of protecting the reef for future generations? Turns out not much, until she teamed up with local diver Keus, who taught Smeulders (along with other women on the island) how to find and capture the lionfish to help save the coral reef. “I showed [chefs] how to clean them, gave [them] recipes and gave batches [of the fish] for free to restaurants to practise with,” says Keus.

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    FAO project to boost sustainable food production in Cuba
    Water & FoodFebruary 25, 2025

    FAO project to boost sustainable food production in Cuba

    Excerpt and Photo from cubanews.acn.cu Through the transformation of agrifood systems in 10 municipalities in western Cuba, a new project of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) aims to help increase food production with a focus on sustainability in fishing, forestry and agricultural practices. With funding of 9.3 million dollars and a five-year duration, some 7,000 hectares of agricultural land and 600 hectares of forests will be restored, FAO, in charge of the initiative along with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Center for Research on Protein Plants and Bionatural Products (CIPB), reported on its web site. “Blue and green development in Cuba’s food and urban sectors” is the name of the project, which has a circular economy approach and will implement financial incentives in the public and private sectors. According to the report, it is expected to achieve sustainable productive growth in food production at the local level without compromising existing natural resources, which will improve the capacity to face the impacts of climate change. It is also estimated that greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions will be reduced by 1,231,676 tons.

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    Bee Population Decline in Jeju Raises Environmental and Agricultural Concerns
    Water & FoodFebruary 19, 2025

    Bee Population Decline in Jeju Raises Environmental and Agricultural Concerns

    Image courtesy of Yonha. Retrieved from koreabizwire.com The honeybee population in Jeju has been steadily declining, raising concerns among local farmers and environmental experts. According to data released by the Jeju provincial government on February 13, the number of beehives on the island has consistently decreased over the past five years, falling from 80,803 in 2020 to 56,678 in 2024. The annual decline rate has accelerated, from a 2.5% drop in 2021 to a sharp 29.9% decrease in 2024. Officials attribute the decline to climate change, which has disrupted the blooming patterns of nectar-producing trees, leading to reduced honey production. Additionally, the rising cost of queen bees has increased production expenses, particularly for small-scale beekeepers. Meanwhile, the latest livestock statistics indicate shifting trends in Jeju’s agricultural sector. The number of Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) and beef cattle declined, with Hanwoo dropping 1.3% to 38,456 head in 2024 from 38,978 the previous year. Beef cattle numbers saw a more significant decrease of 25.6%, falling from 1,076 to 801. In contrast, dairy farming experienced growth, with the number of dairy cows increasing by 4.5% to 4,419, up from 3,972 in 2024. Poultry farming also expanded, with the chicken population rising 2.4% to 1.86 million.

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    Philippines declares ‘food security emergency’ to tame retail rice prices
    Water & FoodFebruary 12, 2025

    Philippines declares ‘food security emergency’ to tame retail rice prices

    Photo courtesy: REUTERS/Erik De Castro/File Photo.

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    New suite of initiatives aimed at growing the Prince Edward Island livestock sector
    Water & FoodFebruary 4, 2025

    New suite of initiatives aimed at growing the Prince Edward Island livestock sector

    Excerpt and photo from princeedwardisland.ca In collaboration with the Government of Canada, the Province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) is launching new funding opportunities to further support its cattle and livestock sectors. Through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), the governments of Canada and PEI will be introducing the Grow the Herd Pilot Program, as well as a new PEI Livestock Champion. The pilot program will include two funding streams focusing on supporting the unique growth requirements of each Island farm. The PEI Livestock Champion position, created in collaboration with the PEI Cattle Producers and Atlantic Beef Products, will complement these programs, as well as other existing programs and services offered, by providing leadership, expertise and direction to Island livestock producers. The programs announced in this suite of initiatives support PEI’s Livestock Strategy and will continue to improve the quality of PEI’s products available to local markets as well as help drive new markets.

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    As drought sets in, farmers in Saint Kitts and Nevis turn to technology for help
    Water & FoodJanuary 15, 2025

    As drought sets in, farmers in Saint Kitts and Nevis turn to technology for help

    Photo courtesy of UNEP / Duncan Moore. Retrieved from unep.org For Meshach Alford, a farmer from the town of Saint Paul’s in the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts, the realities of climate change are all too real. “I have planted crops and there has been no water for weeks, for months,” he says. “Even when you put your hand 18 inches (45 centimetres) deep in the soil, it’s still dry.” Saint Kitts and Nevis—a twin-island nation—is increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including drought. Rainfall is the [sole source](https://www.water.gov.kn/statement-on-water-supply-on-st-kitts/#:~:text=National%20Water%20Crisis.-,St.,potable%20water%20comes%20from%20rainfall.) of potable water in the country and dwindling precipitation has meant that 80 per cent of Saint Kitts residents suffer from regular water outages. “What was considered as a wet season is no longer a wet season,” says Cheryl Jeffers, a chief technical officer within the Saint Kitts and Nevis Climate Action Unit. “So, it creates some sense of confusion, especially towards the agriculture sector, in determining what to plant and when to plant.” To help farmers contend with drought, the United Nations [Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN)](https://www.ctc-n.org/) – with tech company HR Wallingford and the Saint Kitts and Nevis Department of Environment – developed a system that can forecast droughts and predict groundwater availability. The system analyses data collected from satellites and remote monitoring stations around the country, producing a drought risk map. The island’s meteorological agency, Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Met Office, relays the forecast to farmers groups over WhatsApp. So-called extension officers then visit farmers and advise them on when to plant.

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    Mayotte: co-development with Madagascar and the Comoros to feed the survivors of Chido
    Water & FoodJanuary 8, 2025

    Mayotte: co-development with Madagascar and the Comoros to feed the survivors of Chido

    Excerpt and Photo from temoignages.re Cyclone Chido’s devastating passage over Mayotte has left deep scars, particularly on the agricultural sector. Harvests were wiped out, and it will take months, if not years, to restore production levels. This situation highlights the fragility of an island that relies heavily on imports to feed its population. Yet regional solutions, such as closer cooperation with Madagascar and Union of Comoros, could make it possible to provide Mayotte with the food it needs quickly and cheaply. In Mayotte, plantations of staple crops such as bananas and manioc have been destroyed. These crops, which are essential to the local diet, cannot be replanted quickly because of farmers’ cash shortages. Unlike the French departments in France, farmers in Mayotte do not benefit from crop insurance, as French companies refuse to insure crops in Mayotte, just as they do on La Reunion Island. The funds mobilised by France to deal with this kind of disaster arrive only too slowly. La Reunion’s farmers can testify to this. Dependence on imports is a problem. The long distances between Mayotte and its suppliers in Europe or East Asia mean high costs and long lead times. All this will only further exasperate a population that has seen the myth of ‘Mayotte as France’s 101st department’ crumble. However, a regional alternative is possible with Madagascar, which was spared by the cyclone, and the Union of the Comoros.

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    Cape Verde’s agricultural transformation: From drought to innovation
    Water & FoodDecember 2, 2024

    Cape Verde’s agricultural transformation: From drought to innovation

    Just four years after being hit by a severe drought, Cape Verde is undergoing a remarkable agricultural transformation. Once struggling to sustain crops, the archipelago is now embracing innovation, with lush greenery emerging as a symbol of progress. A key driver behind this shift is the implementation of modern infrastructure, including seawater desalination plants. **Empowering Farmers** Agronomist Edy Simão highlights the impact of these developments: “These measures to boost production and improve water access will truly help farmers achieve better livelihoods. Many already sustain themselves through farming but often need additional income from construction or other jobs. With this support, they can fully rely on their agricultural production.” **A Revolution in Agriculture**

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