Investing in Blue Foods 2026

Conclusion Africa’s blue food sector holds immense potential to deliver better nutrition, create millions of jobs and strengthen climate resilience. Doubling blue foods production in Africa today could unlock an additional $17 billion in GDP and reduce Africa’s protein gap by ~25% compared to the global average. Furthermore, a meaningful growth in blue foods has the potential to ease pressure on land-based agriculture. However, realizing this opportunity requires more than individual projects or technologies. It demands coordinated, system-wide effort, which couples innovation across the entire value chain with a strong enabling environment that makes those innovations stick. Two critical conditions are needed to unlock blue foods at scale in Africa 1 Innovation in products, technology and business models Africa can focus on applying innovation to specific bottlenecks across its full blue foods value chain: –Inputs: Lowering feed costs, improving seed quality and alternative feedstocks, and enhancing aquatic animal health systems to boost productivity and reduce vulnerability to disease. –Production: Expanding access to reliable water, power and farm infrastructure, while strengthening farm management and technical know-how, and promoting the use of low-impact fishing gear and practices to enhance sustainability in capture fisheries. –Processing: Increasing access to affordable, energy-efficient cold storage and local processing facilities to curb post- harvest losses and raise product quality. –Supply chain: Building better logistics, market linkages and transparent traceability systems to connect smallholders to stable buyers and premium markets. –Circularity and waste: Converting waste into usable products and improving environmental management to reduce pollution and create new income streams. Together, these innovations can transform fragmented production into a modern, efficient and sustainable blue foods economy that reflects Africa’s realities and strengths. 2 Robust enabling environment Innovation can only thrive where the broader system supports it. Africa’s blue food growth depends on coordinated policies, investment and partnerships that create stability and opportunity. –Policy and prioritization: Governments can integrate blue foods into national food security, climate and investment strategies, backed by clear regulatory frameworks. –Finance and investment: Affordable, patient capital and blended finance are critical to expand infrastructure, inputs and services for small-scale producers. –Capacity and skills: Scaled-up training and extension services will help producers and processors adopt and maintain new practices. –Collaboration and coordination: Platforms that connect public institutions, investors and communities can accelerate innovation, reduce duplication and ensure inclusion. What needs to happen next Africa’s blue food transformation will depend on how effectively it is integrated into broader food, agriculture and rural development priorities. Countries can assess local blue food potential and embed it within national food system pathways developed through the UN Food Systems Summit and COP28 processes. This approach ensures that blue foods complement agriculture. Scaling-up this transformation requires an ecosystem model that connects policy, innovation and investment. The World Economic Forum’s Food Innovation Hubs provide a platform to help countries identify high-impact opportunities, mobilize finance and scale up innovation through the Food Innovators Network, a global community connecting partners and initiatives worldwide. Through its source–shape–scale framework, the Hubs can support sourcing innovation, shaping enabling environments and scaling-up market- based solutions – turning Africa into a marketplace for blue food innovation that bridges oceans, agriculture and food systems. Investing in Blue Foods: Innovation and Partnerships for Impact 25