On September 19th, students from The American University of Rome’s (AUR) Master’s in Food Studies program were honored to attend the prestigious annual Globefish meeting hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, FAO Globefish is a multi-donor-funded project established in 1984 to improve fisheries and aquaculture practices by collecting, generating, and sharing information and analysis on markets and trade of fisheries and aquaculture products.
A highlight of this year’s event was the Seaweed Forum, where AUR students had the opportunity to engage with a distinguished panel of experts from international organizations, including the FAO, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Global Seaweed Coalition, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and Notpla, a pioneering company that utilizes seaweed to create biodegradable packaging solutions to combat plastic waste.
The forum underscored the rapid expansion of the seaweed industry, emphasizing its increasing global demand and multifaceted applications in sustainability, biodiversity, and innovative product development. Additionally, critical challenges such as the need for enhanced regulatory frameworks, standardization, and greater consumer education were discussed in depth.
AUR students actively participated in the session, posing insightful questions to the expert panel about expanding consumer markets and the integration of indigenous knowledge in sustainable seaweed practices. Their engagement highlighted AUR’s commitment to providing students with practical, real-world learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.
The American University of Rome expresses its sincere thanks to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of FAO for inviting our students to partake in this invaluable experience. Events like these enrich our students’ academic journey, equipping them with the knowledge and networks necessary to navigate and impact the evolving global food landscape.
Thanks to Graduate Student Assistant Nina Adams for contributing to this article.