Crona and colleagues created a framework of four policy objectives, including blue food utilization as a source of nutrients, providing healthy alternatives to terrestrial animal-source foods, supplying nutrient sources with relatively low environmental footprints, and safeguarding blue foods in cultures, diets, economies and livelihoods. The authors find that African and South American nations have a high availability of blue foods meaning vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies could be addressed by promoting access to and facilitating consumption of culturally relevant blue foods. In the Global North, moderate consumption of seafood with low environmental impact can provide an alternative to red meat overconsumption. Blue food diversity can promote policy with co-benefits for human health and environmental sustainability; livelihoods, economies, health and environmental sustainability; and climate resilience and blue food production, employment or revenue. For example, almost all the countries dealing with high cardiovascular disease risk could promote blue food over red meat consumption as part of a whole-diet approach, simultaneously addressing health and environmental concerns. However, trade-offs were also identified, including environmental sustainability versus nutritional content of aquaculture products; domestic consumption versus export revenues; and efficiency, affordability and availability versus diversification and resilience.
To aid exploration of the data, Crona and colleagues created an interactive website, providing a tool for policy and decision makers looking to maximize the potential of blue foods in their region. Crona and colleagues’ analysis demonstrates that the health, environmental, economic and welfare benefits that nations derive from blue foods are diverse and decisions need to be tailored towards local contexts, particularly in low-income settings, where blue foods can be integrated into ongoing policy measures to address food security while promoting sustainable and healthy diets.
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