Ministry, FAO Discuss Global Marine Programs

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) held a discussion on global marine programs on Monday, reported Maritime and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo.

"The world is currently facing a serious challenge on the food front, as it will have to feed nine billion people by 2050," the minister stated on Monday.

The result of the meeting, which was also attended by various parties, will be taken as a recommendation to the "6th Annual BlueTech and Blue Economy" Summit in November this year.

Sharif noted that the world will face multiple challenges with regard to food security in the future.

According to him, the world community must immediately seek a solution to these challenges. In addition, integrated transitional efforts are required to transform the world economy toward sustainable development, which equitably and efficiently utilizes resources.

One of the responses to the food issues, said Sharif, is the Blue Economy paradigm.

Blue economy is an economic development model that unites sea and land development by emphasizing optimization of technology, industry, land, and marine waters that will lead to an increased level of utilization of marine resources.

The World Bank and the FAO estimate that, in 2030, consumption of nearly two-thirds of fishery products in the world will come from the fisheries subsector.

In line with these needs, a number of regions such as South Asia, Southeast Asia, China, and Japan will be producing regions of fishery products, with a 70 percent share of the world. (WDY)