24 MARCH 2015 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG Accordingly aquaculture researchers must seriously consider the recommended changes in approach, embrace a change in paradigms, and conduct research that includes environmental, social and economic components through appropriate cooperation and collaboration. In some cases, this advocacy for “reinvigoration” will be challenging, frustrated by the inevitable changes in global climate, some terminally lost resources, and physiological responses of currently cultured organisms that will be difficult to modify. Due to its relative infancy in comparison to other animal agriculture production sectors, aquaculture has endured a considerable amount of scrutiny of commercial production activities and, in some cases, dramatic accusations and exposés of detrimental effects on the environment and the alleged inferiority of products compared to those obtained from capture fisheries. Aquaculture scientists and industry leaders have not always embraced the approach of addressing socio-economic issues and effectively communicating with the public, but through these experiences, the need for a “holistic” approach has begun to be recognized by the industry and, in many cases, researchers. Also, due to the inherent physiology of the cultured organism that confers comparatively better conversion efficiencies and generally lower environmental footprints, aquaculture (in contrast to other terrestrial animal agriculture sectors) has a distinct advantage as an animal protein production sector. Accordingly aquaculture has a foundation that would seemingly embrace the research recommendations that have been offered by the committee. Aquaculture seems ready to be a principal benefactor of this recommended reinvigoration of scientific research efforts and dimensions found in the NRC report. The aquaculture industry has made renewed efforts to meet the challenges of questions concerning sustainability, product quality, and environmental footprint with proactive responses. Research efforts are poised to address sustainability criteria, incorporate scientifically proven communication practices that include engagement by stakeholders and the public, and enhance collaborative efforts with industry. Notes Louis R. D’Abramo is a retired and former William L. Giles Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Fisheries and Aquaculture at Mississippi State University. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. He is also a Past President and Fellow of the World Aquaculture Society. The report discussed in this article can be downloaded from www.nap.edu/catalog/19000/critical-role-of-animal-scienceresearch-in-food-security-and-sustainability delivery, acceptance and assimilation of nutrients as they affect growth and survival. Suggested increases in production efficiency effected through the introduction of probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary enzymes in feeds merited the committee’s designation of these feed additives as a research priority. The overall growthpromoting value and economic practicality of using these additives as contributors to increased and sustainable production need to be determined. The committee also identified a funding priority for the development of animal model systems based on the integration of biological systems such as growth, maintenance and reproduction. Also detailed as a research priority was the improvement of biomathematical modeling systems based on strong collaborative interactions between modelers and animal science researchers. Overview In essence, the report’s recommendations addressed those areas of research that are needed to achieve food security by increasing animal protein production in concert with sustainable intensification. The committee proposed the formation of a U.S. Animal Science Strategic Plan to best achieve implementation of recommendations. Ideally this approach would also serve as a foundation for a strategic plan for developing countries. The real significance of the report is evident in the conclusion that future research-based production systems can only be successful if they are holistically based. This new paradigm for the performance of relevant animal science research must be accompanied by significant changes and dramatic improvements in infrastructure. Research must encompass the contributions of socioeconomics and communication and the realities of climate change as a means to understand the necessity of tradeoffs in achieving sustainable intensification. Research can no longer be fragmented, with only rare and haphazard opportunities to realize significant and functional advances. Inter- and intra-disciplinary research must be a standard and funding agencies and private enterprise must recognize and apply these “new” paradigms to animal science research endeavors. The report is timely. How it is accepted by funding agencies and the private sector as a guide in addressing recommended levels and strategies for funding research remains to be seen. Continued inefficiencies, lost time, and poor human health and starvation globally will be the inevitable and sustained consequences if researchers, public funding agencies and the private sector fail to act promptly to implement strategic plans with sufficient funding to seriously heed the overarching and key recommendations and research priorities. Aquaculture Research — The Message of the Report Aquaculture is recognized as an important and everincreasing contributor to meeting global food security needs. The aquaculture industry has made renewed efforts to meet the challenges of questions concerning sustainability, product quality, and environmental footprint with proactive responses. Research efforts are poised to address sustainability criteria, incorporate scientifically proven communication practices that include engagement by stakeholders and the public, and enhance collaborative efforts with industry.
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