Call for tender: A sustainable future for European blue food

Biodiversa+ is pleased to announce a new call for tender. We are seeking a subcontractor to conduct a knowledge synthesis on the biodiversity and social impacts of European blue food production and consumption chains. The review will focus on three blue food species—cod, salmon, and shrimp—and will address both environmental and social impacts within the broader context of global food systems and supply chains.

Context

Since the start of the 21st century, the demand for blue foods—such as cod, salmon, and shrimp—has nearly doubled, with an annual growth rate of 1.6% since the 1960s. The future development of blue foods is critical for global food security, equitable economic trade, and human health. With global demand expected to double again by 2050, it is essential to understand and assess the types of blue foods consumed in Europe, their production locations, and the local ecological and social impacts of these consumption behaviors. This understanding is crucial for developing more sustainable and equitable supply chains.

To address this challenge, Biodiversa+ launches a new knowledge synthesis project, a tool for objectively and systematically highlighting impacts and guiding more sustainable practices. This is part of our work under Work Package 4, “Connecting R&I Programs, Results, and Experts to Policy”, which aims to improve the exchange of information between science, policy and other stakeholders in order to increase the relevance and uptake of funded research. The Biodiversa+ subtask 4.1.2, “Desk Studies and Production of Knowledge Syntheses,” is led by the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB).

This review will contribute to the Biodiversa+ flagships:

• Supporting protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem across land and sea
• Better transnational monitoring of biodiversity to better characterize, understand and report on biodiversity dynamics and trends