17 Nations Set to Thrive with Sustainable Livestock and Aquatic Foods Initiative

By Sharon Atieno

Over 15 lower- and middle-income nations stand to gain from the Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) initiative launched by the CGIAR, which was previously called the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.

The listed nations encompass Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Mali, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, and Guatemala.

Rodrigue Yossa, the Acting Director of the CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science Program, stated this during the CGIAR Science Week held in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.

Yossa states that SAAF’s objective is to enhance the quality of life for individuals in these nations through sustainable changes in animal and aquatic food systems. This transformation seeks to create inclusive, nutritious, and eco-friendly food supply chains that are both climate-resilient and environmentally conscious.

“We want to improve the livelihoods of 1.7 million people across Africa, Asia Pacific and South America, making sure that they have access to nutrient-dense quality animal and aquatic foods,” he said, adding that this will be achieved through focusing on six interlinked areas of work.

One of the areas is productivity plus, where CGIAR will support animal and aquatic food producers in a socially inclusive manner as they adopt productivity enhancing innovations which are profitable reduce emissions and increase food nutrient value.

“This is really about making sure that we close the productivity gaps through innovations around genetics, feeds and forages as well as the health bundles… The plus here means that we want these systems to be profitable, to facilitate adoption by the youth and women. We also want them to be resilient,” Yossa explained.

In the climate and environment area, the program will bolster the efforts of communities within animal and aquatic food systems to adopt innovations that will increase social, economic, and environmental resilience.

Within the One Health framework, CGIAR aims to create and promote advancements in livestock and aquaculture systems to enhance communal health and welfare. "Our objective is to guarantee the security of food production not only for the wellbeing of animals and aquatic life but also for those who consume these products, along with safeguarding overall ecological health," he stated, emphasizing that their efforts will concentrate on biosecurity measures, combating antibiotic resistance, and ensuring safer practices in both aquatic and animal food production.

The organization aims to enhance market players, particularly women, young individuals, and underrepresented communities, so they can engage more effectively in fair, low-carbon, and robust animal and fish production systems. This effort falls within an additional focal point of improving market mechanisms through strategic policies and expansion initiatives.

"We aim to create business strategies centered on livestock and aquaculture production to ease their acceptance and guarantee our connection with scalable initiatives for significant impact. This ensures widespread uptake and utilization of all the advancements generated through the SAAF program," Yossa stated.

In terms of gender, youth, and social inclusion, the initiative will back the endeavors of livestock and aquaculture producers as well as their communities to embrace fairer practices that empower both women and young people.

Finally, within the domain of data and digital solutions, the entity will aid in crafting scalable innovations at every program level to enhance overall productivity. This data will prove especially valuable for shaping policies.

The six-year initiative (2025-2030) involves a partnership between six CGIAR centers: WorldFish, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, the International Center for Agricultural Research in theDry Areas (ICARDA), the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

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How to Prevent Microplastics from Entering Your Body: Experts Share Vital Tips

Plastic fragments are ubiquitous—found in natural environments as well as within the human body. As three scientists articulate in the journal Brain Medicine, microplastics permeate the food we consume, the water we drink, and even the air we inhale. commentary on several previous studies.

They highlight potential risks – however, their main focus is explaining ways to decrease exposure to these particles: steer clear of plastic bottles, opt for ceramic containers when microwaving food, and choose plastic-free teabags instead.

A recent study conducted by another team discovered substantially greater amounts of microscopic plastic particles in liver and brain tissue samples taken posthumously from individuals in 2024 compared to those collected back in 2016. The researchers, headed by Matthew Campen at the University of New Mexico, noted that these plastics were most concentrated in the brains as opposed to the livers or kidneys. This finding was published in February in the scientific journal Nature Medicine.

The significant rise in plastic concentration in the brain over merely eight years is deeply concerning, stated Nicholas Fabiano, the lead commentator from the University of Ottawa.

Small plastic fragments in the brain

Especially tiny particles were identified within the brain, with sizes under 0.2 micrometres. These primarily comprised polyethylene, a material common in various daily use items.

Because of their minuscule dimensions, they have the ability to penetrate what is known as the blood-brain barrier; however, the consequences of this remain uncertain.

Microplastics consist of particles ranging from 1 micrometer (0.001 millimeter) to 5 millimeters in size. Particles that are even tinier fall into the category of nanoplastics.

The three scientists clarify that each individual has the ability to decrease their consumption of nano- and microplastics.

• According to the researchers, if a person consumes solely bottled water, they may ingest over 20 times more microplastics compared to someone who exclusively drinks tap water, citing previous findings. study Even water from glass bottles contains more plastic particles than tap water, according to researchers who report this in their study. analysis Of the 21 studies, this might be due to the bottling process, amongst other factors.

• An additional source of micro- and nanoplastics is plastic tea bags According to the analysis by these three researchers, steeping a plastic teabag at 95 degrees Celsius might result in substantial amounts of plastic leaching out. Consider choosing brands that do not utilize plastic teabags or opt for using loose-leaf tea instead.

・Avoiding plastic food containers Heating food in plastic containers—particularly in the microwave—may lead to significant releases of micro- and nanoparticles, cautions co-commentator Brandon Luu from the University of Toronto.

According to the researchers, even storing something for a long time at room temperature or in the fridge can result in a considerable discharge of particles.

"Luu suggests that opting for glass or stainless-steel containers over plastic can be a minor yet important step in reducing exposure." She adds that food stored in cans might include compounds derived from plastics like Bisphenol-A (BPA).

In one study During the experiment, participants consumed canned soup for five consecutive days, resulting in a significant increase in their urinary BPA levels. However, the team of researchers points out: "The extent and health effects of these increases in BPA levels are still unknown and require additional investigation."

Another US study has demonstrated that highly processed foods have considerably higher levels of microplastics compared to minimally processed foods.

The group observes at least one encouraging outcome: "Among the most promising elements of the discoveries made so far is the absence of a link between age and the buildup of microplastics."

This implies that even with continuous exposure to environmental elements, the body possesses processes to eliminate these substances gradually via perspiration, urine, and feces.

Several potential outcomes for the body

The commentators mention that evidence from cell cultures and animal studies suggests plastic particles might lead to inflammation, immune system disruptions, changes in metabolic processes, irregular organ growth, and increased risk of cancer. Nonetheless, the body of research remains somewhat constrained.

Extensive human trials are necessary to assess the potential health hazards associated with microplastics. Concurrently, additional investigations should be conducted to more accurately gauge the efficacy of different mitigation approaches.

Only a limited number of studies have explored the impact of microplastics on the brain. Campen’s group found higher concentrations in another dozen brain samples taken from individuals diagnosed with dementia. Nonetheless, the scientists noted that this research doesn’t establish a clear causal link.

The three writers suggest it's possible that dementia can compromise the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, thereby enabling greater ingress of microplastics.

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