Urban Aquaculture in 2050

 Intensive Urban Aquaculture Systems Enhancing Food Security in 2050

“Aquaculture, not the Internet, represents the most promising investment opportunity

 of the 21^st Century.”

Peter Drucker, Economist and Nobel Laureate

What role will the late Peter Drucker’s vision of aquaculture play in the middle of this Century when our world population will be 9 billion and 70% of us will be living in cities?

Prediction:  By 2050, cities will be producing aquatic animals, plants, and algae for food by integrating intensive aquaculture production systems into their water/waste management infrastructures.

The FAO’s  The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2012 report recently stated that aquaculture currently supplies nearly half of our seafood and that the increased demand in 2050 will be primarily satisfied by this, the world’s fastest growing food production system.

The important role of aquaculture in improving food security was recently exemplified by NOAA’s goal to enhance our nation’s food security through aquaculture and The United Nation’s goal of improving the food security for rural poor around the world by using aquaculture production technologies.

Most aquaculture production takes place along ocean coastlines and inland fresh water systems that can be located far from large cities.  As the world population moves to becoming 70% urbanized by 2050, food security becomes very critical for what will be at that time over 6 billion city dwellers!

With over 6 billion of us concentrated in cities by 2050, humanity could face a precarious food supply/production infrastructure.  However, technological advancements in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), genetics and waste water utilization should make it possible to use the massive water management infrastructures of cities to implement intensive urban aquaculture systems.

Vast water management infrastructures are already in place in the major cities of the world and with the proper long term policies, planning, and scientific advancements, the integration of intensive aquaculture systems can advance food security for the future urbanized world of 2050.

Peter Drucker’s investment advice for the 21^st Century may very well be true, but aquaculture’s main contribution to our increasingly urbanized citizens may turn out to be food security rather than financial security.

Please share your thoughts concerning the possible importance of “Urban Aquaculture” in helping to assure food security for our future Mid-century urbanites.  Sincerely, Dave