Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2022-564/ Interest in using seaweed as food is growing in Nordic countries and in other countries in Europe. Seaweed is the biggest aquaculture product in the world, yet there are still no international standards on food safety, such as Codex standards or guidelines or EU legislation on for seaweed. In Europe there is limited experience of using seaweed, and little is known about potential risks and benefits to human health when it is consumed. Guidance is needed for both producers and public agencies to ensure food safety. A common Nordic approach is called for, in view of the differences globally and within Europe. The scope of this report covers food safety aspects of seaweed with the main focus on chemical and microbiological food hazards.

The 2024 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture features the Blue Transformation in action, illustrated by activities and initiatives, led by FAO in collaboration with Members, partners and key stakeholders, to integrate aquatic foods into global food security and sustainability, enhance policy advocacy, scientific research and capacity building, disseminate sustainable practices and technological innovations, and support community involvement. Part 1 of this edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture benefits from significant improvements in data collection, analytical and assessment tools and methodologies to present the most up-to-date review of world fisheries and aquaculture production and utilization. Part 2 highlights the role of FAO and its partners to catalyse the transformational changes required to support aquaculture expansion and intensification, effective management of global fisheries and upgrading of aquatic value chains. Part 3 covers the high-impact challenges and opportunities of the untapped potential of utilizing whole fish and by-products to improve food security and nutrition, expounds on the role of aquatic food systems in providing critical climate, biodiversity and environmentally sound solutions, and highlights the importance of their integration into national and multilateral processes. It also presents an outlook on future trends up to 2032 based on projections. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 provides the most up-to-date and evidence-based information, supporting policy, scientific and technical insights on challenges, opportunities and innovations shaping the present and future of the sector, for the benefit of a wide and expanding audience of policymakers, managers, scientists, fishers, farmers, traders, civil society activists and consumers.

Future Proteins: Sources, Processing, Applications and the Bioeconomy presents sources of alternative proteins and the novel processing technologies associated with these new proteins, including their vast food and non-food applications and their contributions to the circular economy that ties them together. Broken into three sections, chapters focus on alternative proteins including cereals, legumes and pulses, fungi, seafoods, insects, and others before assessing novel production technologies and alternative protein applications. Through the use of content features, specifically definitions, case studies, recent developments, data, and methods, this reference assists readers in understanding how to apply current knowledge and techniques to their research. This book is intended for any stakeholders involved in the alternative protein industry as it provides a clear and comprehensive review of the industry. It will be of interest to food scientists, technologists, food industry personnel, academics and graduate students researching this and related topics. - Discusses the various industrial applications of the proposed proteins, from powdered algal for the nutraceuticals market to insect pastas and bacterial-protein flour - Provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances on the identification of potentially important compounds in these alternative proteins - Outlines advances in proteins characterization, processing and purification techniques - Focuses on biologically active proteins and their beneficial impact on humans - Addresses implications for legislation that forward novel foods

Edible insects have always been a part of human diets, but in some societies there remains a degree of disdain and disgust for their consumption. Although the majority of consumed insects are gathered in forest habitats, mass-rearing systems are being developed in many countries. Insects offer a significant opportunity to merge traditional knowledge and modern science to improve human food security worldwide. This publication describes the contribution of insects to food security and examines future prospects for raising insects at a commercial scale to improve food and feed production, diversify diets, and support livelihoods in both developing and developed countries. It shows the many traditional and potential new uses of insects for direct human consumption and the opportunities for and constraints to farming them for food and feed. It examines the body of research on issues such as insect nutrition and food safety, the use of insects as animal feed, and the processing and preservation of insects and their products. It highlights the need to develop a regulatory framework to govern the use of insects for food security. And it presents case studies and examples from around the world. Edible insects are a promising alternative to the conventional production of meat, either for direct human consumption or for indirect use as feedstock. To fully realise this potential, much work needs to be done by a wide range of stakeholders. This publication will boost awareness of the many valuable roles that insects play in sustaining nature and human life, and it will stimulate debate on the expansion of the use of insects as food and feed.

Considering the detrimental environmental impact of current food systems, and the concerns raised about their sustainability, there is an urgent need to promote diets that are healthy and have low environmental impacts. These diets also need to be socio-culturally acceptable and economically accessible for all. Acknowledging the existence of diverging views on the concepts of sustainable diets and healthy diets, countries have requested guidance from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on what constitutes sustainable healthy diets. These guiding principles take a holistic approach to diets; they consider international nutrition recommendations; the environmental cost of food production and consumption; and the adaptability to local social, cultural and economic contexts. This publication aims to support the efforts of countries as they work to transform food systems to deliver on sustainable healthy diets, contributing to the achievement of the SDGs at country level, especially Goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and 13 (Climate Action).