Investing in Blue Foods 2026

The future of global food production depends on the ability to diversify production, while scaling-up innovation to strengthen resilience and nutrition, and to create livelihoods opportunities. This report is about blue foods – spanning fisheries, aquaculture and the aquatic value chain. When supported by the right technologies, policies and investment, blue foods can be one of the pathways towards meeting growing food demand while delivering economic opportunity and ecological resilience. A deep dive into Africa highlights the tremendous potential of blue foods. If blue foods production were doubled – drawn from the continent’s rivers, lakes and seas – it could unlock an additional $17 billion in GDP , reduce its protein gap by 25% compared to the global average, and generate millions of sustainable livelihoods. Furthermore, a meaningful growth in blue foods has the potential to ease pressure on land-based agriculture, which could help reduce agricultural emissions. Achieving this growth responsibly will be essential, to ensure that the expansion of Africa’s blue foods sector empowers communities, creates jobs and livelihoods, and safeguards marine and freshwater ecosystems. Despite this potential, high input costs, limited infrastructure and environmental pressures continue to hold the sector back. By simply meeting global averages across key loss drivers – inputs, waste and spoilage, disease risks and traceability losses – Africa could produce an additional 5 million tonnes of blue foods each year, a 40% increase on current output. The good news is that blue food innovation is within reach.Across the continent and globally, innovators are already proving what is possible, from sustainable feed production to digital monitoring and circular waste solutions. Realizing this potential requires seeing blue foods not as a standalone endeavour but part of a holistic food system. The integration of aquatic and terrestrial food production – through shared infrastructure, circular resource flows and coordinated policies that transcend institutional boundaries – can create efficiencies across land and water, reduce waste, and strengthen nutrition security. When food systems are designed as interconnected networks and not separate value chains, the impact multiplies. Through the Food Innovation Hubs, the World Economic Forum and partners are proposing a new cooperation model that enables stronger coordination across policy-makers, innovators, private sector and local communities. The model connects these actors to a global Food Innovators Network that can mobilize investment and support fit-for-purpose technology adoption in blue foods. Africa’s story is one of abundance, natural wealth, young talent and vast opportunity. Diversification and innovation will enable Africa to be a leader in unlocking the blue food opportunity that can feed its people, power its economies, create jobs, support women and youth, and strengthen its natural ecosystems – providing a model of inclusive and resilient growth.Alfredo Giron Head of Ocean, World Economic Forum Geneva Noopur Desai Manager, Food Initiatives and Partnerships, Food and Water, World Economic Forum Shalini Unnikrishnan Managing Director and Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group ForewordInvesting in Blue Foods: Innovation and Partnerships for ImpactJanuary 2026 Investing in Blue Foods: Innovation and Partnerships for Impact 3