Aquatic foods – a key source of protein, micronutrients and essential fatty acids – are “superfoods”, which, when added to a diverse diet of vegetables, fruits and pulses, such as beans, peas and lentils, contribute to cognition, health and nutrition.   

In an interview with UN News, 2021 World Food Prize Laureate Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted explained the important role that fish and aquatic food systems have in sustainable healthy diets, and how they should be included in nutrition policies and programme interventions to tackle malnutrition. 

Noting an urgent need to shift the global narrative from simply feeding people to nourishing a growing population, Dr. Thilsted, a steering committee member of a high-level food panel with the UN Committee on World Food Security, began by telling UN News’s Sachin Gaur how her research approach has led to this award.