GSA Announces Keynote Speakers for September’s Responsible Seafood Summit in Cartagena

The Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) has announced the keynote speakers for its annual Responsible Seafood Summit, which will be held in Cartagena, Colombia, from September 29 to October 2. The event, in its 24th year, will focus on the theme of “impact” and have an agenda designed to address challenges facing the seafood industry.

The summit’s program includes discussions on various topics, such as antimicrobial resistance, the role of tilapia in food security, traceability system standardization, and support for small-scale fishers and farmers. The event will also feature case studies on Fishery Improvement Projects for Argentinian red shrimp and mahimahi, and an analysis of the impact of tariffs on global seafood trade. For the first time, a breakout session will be delivered in Spanish.

Featured Speakers

The opening keynote will be delivered by Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, director for nutrition, health, and food security impact area platform at the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR). Dr. Thilsted will address the impact of seafood and seafood production on global food security, specifically concerning protein provision in regions with high need. Dr. Thilsted received the 2021 World Food Prize and the Arrell Global Food Innovation Award for her work on nutrition-sensitive aquatic food systems. She currently serves on several United Nations panels and co-chairs the EAT-Lancet 2.0 Commission.

Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, will discuss the role of seafood consumption in human health. Dr. Mozaffarian has authored approximately 400 scientific publications and has guided various organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Heart Association.

Dr. Jason Clay, senior vice president of markets at World Wildlife Fund-US (WWF-US), will provide his perspective on global trends within food systems. Through his leadership of WWF’s Markets Institute, Dr. Clay has worked with the private sector on sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries. His work over a 35-year career has focused on a systems-level view of challenges across the food supply chain.

Registration and Logistics

The four-day summit provides a platform for industry leaders to network, participate in field trips, and engage in discussions on seafood production, sourcing, and trading. Registration and a full agenda are available on the Global Seafood Alliance’s event website.

The GSA offers three pricing tiers for the event, with discounted rates available for GSA corporate members and residents of Latin America. The hotel block for the event closes at the end of August.

Oysters. Photo credit: Global Seafood Alliance (GSA)