Explore the 2026 Agenda

To position blue foods within global health narratives, the sector must emphasize their role in delivering affordable, inclusive nutrition while avoiding perceptions of being premium or niche. This keynote will explore how blue foods can communicate a unified message that combines health, climate resilience, and biodiversity in a way that resonates across policymakers, retailers, and consumers. We’ll examine how actionable data and trusted institutions can counter misinformation and reinforce the health-sustainability in response to changing dietary trends.

- How can blue foods move from margins into the core of global food transition strategies? Which species, regions, and production systems offer the fastest, most sustainable pathways to scale?

- What vulnerabilities are created by an over-reliance on terrestrial proteins, and how can seafood mitigate risks across climate resilience, nutrition security, and supply chain stability? Which policy frameworks and incentives are already unlocking ocean protein at scale and where do critical gaps remain?

- What evidence and innovation positions blue foods as among the most scalable, climate-smart protein sources, and how can the sector articulate a clear, unified mission that resonates with policymakers, investors and consumers?

- What barriers are holding the sector back, what is the true addressable market for blue foods, and how can coordination across value chains unlock investment, accelerate growth and ensure equitable access?

- Which regions, species and operating models are leading on taste, growth speed, and resilience? How are Africa, South America and Asia redefining global production and where are the next aquaculture frontiers emerging?

- Where are the most promising investment opportunities and which governance and infrastructure frameworks make them sustainable and scalable?

- Across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, which innovations are gaining traction, and which technologies are most urgently needed to future-proof production?

- How are local technology advances reshaping species competitiveness and global supply chains? How are regions leveraging their unique geographical contexts through targeted innovations, and can these breakthroughs scale across continents and species?

- In an era where some governments are rolling back climate commitments, how should emerging regions position themselves to lead and who are the potential champions driving process?

- What strategies, across innovation, branding, investment and supply chain management, drove salmon’s rapid growth, and how can other species replicate and build on this trajectory? Which elements are truly transferable, and how can these insights be shared effectively?

- How can emerging categories accelerate progress by aligning technology, R&D collaboration, and shared infrastructure to avoid reinventing the wheel?

- How can lessons from the salmon sector speed the adoption of sustainable practices across other species, making growth faster, more efficient, and cost-effective?"

- How can Bergen-style clusters - salmons ‘Silicon Valley’ – be leveraged to drive innovation for other species and regions?

· How can we move past traditional blue proteins to encourage consumption of the full spectrum of blue foods available? How can greater species diversity enhance nutrition, stabilise prices, and support biodiversity?

· What role do low-trophic foods (bivalves, seaweed, and algae) play, and what barriers limit their adoption despite clear environmental and nutritional benefits?

· Which species and product formats best fit regional taste preferences and cooking habits, and how can diets shift toward locally produced, lower-trophic species?

· In emerging markets, how can low-trophic species deliver nutritional, economic, and carbon-reduction benefits? What role can diversification play in supporting smallholder farmers and local food systems?

· As novel feed ingredients move beyond hype, which performance metrics - growth, welfare, emissions and traceability – separate genuine impact from marketing claims?

· What is the strategic value of next-gen feed (algae, insects, microbial sources), and how can they move from pilot to commercial adoption? Which trial designs and sample sizes credibly validate performance, and do they indicate potential to replace traditional fishmeal?

· How close are we to bankable offtake agreements, and which risk-sharing models work best?

· How do we translate scientific mapping into operational cost-competitive, scalable solutions for farmers?

· What can we learn from first-generation leaders, and how is the emerging “third wave” of AI-enabled feed reshaping the sector?

Delegates break into small groups to discuss the most critical issues facing the aquaculture industry. Each table is hosted by an industry expert, and delegates can choose the topic most relevant to their business

- What makes seafood ‘restorative’ and how do we create measurable standards for biodiversity gains, habitat recovery, and community benefits? Which indicators are scientifically credible, scalable, and trusted by markets and regulators?

- Which models can grow beyond experimental projects, and what infrastructure, technology, and capital flows are needed to make restorative aquaculture commercially viable?

- How can permitting, incentives, and community co-design frameworks enable, restorative aquaculture while ensuring local benefits?

- Why is ocean carbon sequestration undervalued compared to terrestrial systems, and which models (bivalves, seaweed, fallowing) can assign real financial value to blue natural capital?

- How can research, data, and technology improve blue carbon measurement and long-term sequestration to ensure credibility and scalable impact?

- What strategies can maximise profitability, attract investment, and drive innovation in the blue economy?

- How can businesses embed blue carbon projects into climate strategies, and what roles do certification schemes, partnerships, and consumer demand play in enabling adoption?

- What policies are needed for governments to incorporate blue carbon credits into global carbon markets and incentivise risk-averse stakeholders?

· Which interim supports - grants, pilots, guarantees - can keep vital innovations alive during pre-commercialization and testing phases?

· How can international clusters, regulators and testbeds speed innovation while protecting ecosystems, and what mapping of regulatory openness is needed to guide innovators?

· What strategies help innovators manage decade-long development timelines, shifting government priorities, and policy changes, ensuring stability for long-term investment?

· How do we create transparent pathways for testing and validation to bring siloed innovations into real-world use, while addressing frustration around funding allocation?

Meet our selection of the most promising early-stage blue food innovators across the industry. Explore investment ready ideas, and emerging business models shaping the future of nutritious, sustainable, and scalable ocean-based foods.

· How are venture, private equity, blended finance, and ESG capital shaping the sector? Which instruments and channels can mobilise scalable funding for aquaculture and fisheries?

· How do we convert early-stage projects into bankable portfolios and transition from philanthropic returns-driven models?

· How can the sector overcome fragmentation, showcase market size and growth potential, and attract larger pools of capital? What lessons have emerged from recent successes and setbacks?

· With IPOs and exits limited, what role can private equity and large VCs play, and where are the most promising areas where foundational investment is emerging industry?