Investing in Blue Foods 2026

2.2 Blue food challenges compounded by a limited enabling environment The blue food sector’s growth depends on supporting systems such as finance, infrastructure, value chains and skills, particularly in environmental management. While these systems are evolving in Africa, improvements in access to capital, infrastructure and training will be needed to accelerate the industry’s productivity and competitiveness. Capital and infrastructure gaps About 85%46 of Africa’s blue food sector consists of smallholders with limited access to affordable finance. High upfront costs and poor rural infrastructure – especially unreliable electricity and water – restrict modernization and trap farmers in low-input, low-output cycles.Fragmented ecosystems and value chains The actors in Africa’s blue food systems – fishers, farmers, processors, input suppliers and traders – are geographically dispersed with limited connections. Fragmented regulatory processes increase costs, reduce efficiency and block access to premium markets. Skills and capacity constraints Limited technical capacity is a major bottleneck. Many producers lack access to the training and extension services needed to manage feed, water quality and disease. Post-harvest actors face similar challenges in handling and processing. Without sustained capacity building, productivity and quality remain low. Improvements in access to capital, infrastructure and training will be needed to accelerate the industry’s productivity and competitiveness. Investing in Blue Foods: Innovation and Partnerships for Impact 12