Environment and sustainability

Global population is forecast to reach around 9 billion by 2050. To feed the world, global agricultural output must increase by around 60% from present levels. This must be achieved against a background of increasing competition for natural resources such as water, feed ingredients and farming sites.

Maintaining environmental integrity while massively increasing food production will require farming systems to reduce their unit production environmental footprint. Many farming practices that are regarded as sustainable today will not be acceptable when scaled up. Sustainable intensification of aquaculture means doing more with less. The Sustainable Farming Systems Programme aims to help aquaculture become a more efficient user of natural resources, both in terms of farm productivity and environmental efficiency.

The programme develops better management practices for major aquaculture farming systems, and promotes aquaculture as a secondary or additional use of water resources. The programme focusses on practical interventions that can be directly achieved by small-scale farmers in a developing country context.

Key activities

Key activities of the programme are:

  • Development of better management practices for key aquaculture production systems.
  • Organising small-scale farmers into associations to facilitate cluster-based approaches to extension.
  • Development of culture-based fisheries as a secondary use of water bodies.
  • Development of strategic policy frameworks to guide governments and development agencies in promoting sustainable intensification of aquaculture.

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A collection of subject tags relating to technical matters.

In this collection

Policy brief: Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change for milkfish farming in the Philippines

This brief summarises the results from the interdisciplinary study conducted within the Aquaclimate project in Iloilo province in the Philippines looking at the impacts of climate change on small scale milkfish farming. The brief provides guidelines for adaptation and policy development to address the climate change impacts on small scale milkfish farming in the Philippines and how adaptation measures should be implemented in the region.

Case study on the impacts of climate change on milkfish pond production in Panay Island, Philippines

This case study examines the impacts of climate change on milkfish farmers in Iloilo. Farmer perceptions of climate change, attitudes and adaptation strategies were mapped via focus group discussion, stakeholder workshops and questionnaires. Measures that could be achieved to reduce vulnerability to climate change include sustainable aquaculture practices; diversification of farmers’ income sources; diversification of culture species; utilising natural resources to increase productivity; and building farmer capacities through access to information and knowledge.

Science brief: Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change for shrimp farming in India

This brief summarises the results from the interdisciplinary and multi stakeholder participatory study conducted within the Aquaclimate project in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India, looking at the impacts of climate change and adaptation measures in the shrimp farming sector. The brief based on scientific analysis and stakeholders inputs, further provides science and technology solutions to be undertaken for improving farmers' adaptive capacity to climate change.

Impact of climate change on culture-based fisheries in seasonal reservoirs, Sri Lanka

The present study identifies changes in reservoir filling patterns and water retention period of seasonal reservoirs in Sri Lanka in five administrative districts from 1960 to 2010. Results reveal that there is high drawdown in the recent past in seasonal reservoirs compared to the 1960s, and a forward shifting pattern of drawdown due to altered rainfall patterns. These changes have affected the culture season and the duration of the culture period of stocked fingerlings in the reservoirs.

Technical brief: Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change for milkfish farming in the Philippines

This technical brief summarises the results from an interdisciplinary study in two municipalities in Panay Island, Philippines, looking at vulnerability to climate change, impacts and adaptation measures for milkfish farmers. The brief provides guidelines for adaptation measure that can be undertaken by the farmers together with institutional, policy, science and technology support required to improve their adaptive capacity to cope with future climate change.

Science brief: Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change for milkfish farming in the Philippines

This brief summarises the results from the interdisciplinary study conducted within the AQUACLIMATE project in Iloilo province in the Philippines, looking at the impacts of climate change on small scale milkfish farming. The brief provides guidelines for academics, researchers and technologists to support farmers for adaptation measures to address the climate change impacts on small scale milkfish farming.

Case study: Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change for catfish farmers in the Mekong Delta

The catfish industry in the Mekong Delta faces several risks and challenges including disease, environmental issues, fluctuating price, higher quality requirement of the product, and climate changes, including salt water intrusion. The different production zones were found to be different in terms of their climate change impacts, productivity, culture system and socio-economic characteristics. This study examines farmers perceptions of climate change, scientific and policy support requirements and potential adaptation strategies to sustain the industry.

Technical brief: Impact of climate change on culture-based fisheries in seasonal reservoirs, Sri Lanka

This brief summarises the results from the interdisciplinary study conducted within the Aquaclimate project in Sri Lanka looking at the impacts of climate change on culture based fisheries. The brief further provides guidelines for farmers seeking to address the climate change impacts on culture-based fisheries in Sri Lanka.

Science brief: Impact of climate change on culture-based fisheries in seasonal reservoirs, Sri Lanka

This brief summarises the results from the interdisciplinary study conducted within the Aquaclimate project in Sri Lanka looking at the impacts of climate change on culture based fisheries. The brief further provides guidelines for academia, researchers and technologists to support farmers for adaptation measures to address the climate change impacts on CBF in Sri Lanka.

Technical brief: Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change for catfish farmers, Mekong Delta

This brief summarises the results from the interdisciplinary study conducted within the AQUACLIMATE project, working with catfish farmers in the Mekong Delta. It highlights on farm adaptation measures that can be implemented by catfish farmers to adapt to and prepare for climate change.