WorldFish has launched a two-year project with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) to develop climate-smart aquaculture for small-scale fish producers in Egypt and Nigeria. Promoting Climate-Smart Aquaculture in Egypt and Nigeria runs from July 2026 to June 2028 and is funded by the Australian Government through ACIAR under the Africa-Australia Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture (AAPCRA).

National partners are Egypt's Agricultural Research Center (ARC) and the Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research (CLAR), alongside private-sector partners in both countries. The project targets small-scale fish producers, hatcheries and other actors in the aquatic food value chain, aiming for higher productivity, better use of water and energy, resilience to climate change and environmental sustainability.

It opened with an inception workshop in Cairo attended by the Australian Embassy in Egypt, ACIAR, WorldFish, ARC, CLAR, Nigerian partners, private companies and fish producers, who agreed objectives, implementation arrangements and priorities for collaboration.

The technologies to be tested and evaluated include integrated aquaculture-agriculture (IAA) systems and in-pond raceway systems (IPRS), improved Nile tilapia strains and production methods, solar-powered water pumping and aeration, post-harvest innovations to cut losses, and inclusive business models that support women in aquatic value chains. Demonstration sites will be set up, training exchanges held between Egypt and Nigeria, and guidance materials and policy briefs prepared for decision-makers and investors.

"This project represents an important step forward in developing and expanding climate-smart aquaculture systems in Egypt and Nigeria," said Dr Ahmed Nasr-Allah, WorldFish Country Representative in Egypt. Zita Ritchie, Research Program Manager at ACIAR, called it an important milestone under the AAPCRA partnership, and Tanika Sibal, Second Secretary at the Australian Embassy in Cairo, said it pairs Egypt's aquaculture expertise with Australia's research capacity in sustainable production.

By 2028 the project expects to show improved productivity and profitability, greater water and energy efficiency, lower post-harvest losses and more economic participation by women in aquatic food enterprises in both countries. For fish farmers, the practical interest lies in the technologies on trial: solar pumping and aeration to cut energy bills, raceways and improved tilapia strains to lift output per pond, and post-harvest measures to keep more of the catch saleable.

Source: CGIAR