Use of fish and fish products for to ensure food security and the transition to a balanced and healthy diet

Abstract

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), more than 800 million people around the world were food insecure as of early 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the state of food supply and food security in the global world. The effects of climate change and Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine became further challenges to global food security. This confirmed the imperfection and vulnerability of agri-food chains. However, food security is also a country’s ability to ensure access to quality and healthy food for its population. Thus, according to the Rome Declaration on World Food Security, each country must ensure the human right to adequate food and physical access to it, regardless of climate challenges and weather fluctuations, the state and dynamics of production development. Therefore, when making appropriate decisions, it is necessary to take into account factors such as an increasing global population, climate change affecting agricultural production, inefficient food systems and the growing demand for healthy and safe food. Since the discovery of nutrients, society has sought to provide advice on how to avoid nutrient deficiencies and protect human health and well-being. The results of scientific recommendations based on studies of the impact of food on human health confirm the need to move to new consumption models and change the content of the food basket, taking into account the impact of food chains on the environment. The article considers fish and fish products as a component of the consumer basket of a new model of healthy, high-quality and safe food. Global fish consumption dynamics show that the trend towards a healthy lifestyle is gaining momentum, leading consumers to increasingly prefer fish and seafood. In addition, fish is better absorbed by the body. Due to the high energy and biological value of fish products, a number of issues related to food security can be addressed today.