Leveraging Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) of Seaweeds, Rice and Fish for Equitable Blue Economy, Improved Nutrition and Health in Kenya (IMTA-HEALTH)

Food insecurity and malnutrition especially, protein-energy, micronutrient, vitamin A, iron, iodine, folate, vitamin B12 and zinc deficiencies are prevalent in rural communities in Kenya. Severely affected are pregnant women and children under the age of 5 years. Though unstainable, provision of nutrient supplements is embraced in Kenya. In 2020, 4.5 million children aged 6 to 59 months received doses of vitamin A supplement, and over 2.9 million pregnant women were given iron and folic acid doses. Climate change has negatively impacted both terrestrial and marine production of nutritious food. There is a gap and acute demand for (1) climate resilient and equitable food production and value addition systems, (2) affordable nutritious foods as alternatives to supplements. An equitable aquaculture innovation for increased production and consumption of fish, rice, vegetables, seaweeds is a sustainable diet-based solution to malnutrition that can have more impact on rural communities.