Science-Driven Solutions and Innovation for Sustainable Inland Fisheries and Wild Agrifood Systems

Since 2015, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Michigan State University (MSU) have partnered to advance science-based governance, innovation and capacity development for inland fisheries and wild food systems. These systems play a critical role in food security, nutrition, livelihoods and ecosystem services, particularly for rural and small-scale producers. 

The FAO–MSU collaboration has contributed to elevating inland fisheries within global food systems discussions. A key milestone was the co-organization of the first Global Conference on Inland Fisheries, which led to Freshwater, Fish and the Future and The Rome Declaration: Ten Steps to Responsible Inland Fisheries. 

Joint analytical work has supported improved understanding of inland fishery resources, social-ecological systems transformation and the contribution of inland fisheries to low-emission food production and climate change mitigation. 

A central pillar of the partnership is capacity strengthening. Through scholarships, visiting scholar programmes, internships and joint training initiatives, early-career researchers and practitioners are supported in advancing sustainable fisheries governance. 

Innovation is also a defining feature of the collaboration: from digital tools to improve fish value chains and market access, to guidelines on livelihoods-based restoration of inland aquatic ecosystems, FAO and MSU promote integrated approaches that link biodiversity conservation with human well-being. 

The partnership has engaged countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America, supporting knowledge exchange, case studies and pilot initiatives. Particular attention is given to small-scale terrestrial and aquatic food production systems and to the interconnections between inland fisheries, forests, water and energy systems. 

Aligned with FAO’s Blue Transformation, the collaboration emphasizes cross-sectoral governance and science-driven solutions to enhance sustainability, equity and resilience within inland and wild food systems. 

Looking Ahead 

Building on a decade of cooperation, FAO and MSU will continue scaling innovative and inclusive approaches that integrate fisheries, wild foods and ecosystem restoration. By strengthening research–policy–practice linkages, the partnership contributes to resilient food systems and sustainable development outcomes worldwide. 

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