February 10–13, 2025 | Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
From February 10 to February 13, 2025, an international cohort of researchers, scientists, economists, stakeholders, and diplomats came together at the Universidad de Costa Rica in San José for the Solving-FCB Costa Rica 2025 Meeting. This gathering marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to integrate food security, climate resilience, and biodiversity conservation across diverse geographic and socio-economic contexts.
Solving-FCB: Objectives of the Meeting
The Solving-FCB initiative addresses complex global challenges at the nexus of food security, climate change, and biodiversity. To effectively achieve these ambitious goals, the Costa Rica meeting aimed to:
- Clearly identify concrete outcomes for each case study and the broader project.
- Strengthen linkages and collaborative opportunities among research projects.
- Establish a detailed action and implementation plan for the next three years (years 3–6), including comprehensive financial planning.
- Define precise outputs and assess the project’s progress thus far.
Key highlights from our five international Case Studies
1. Tla’amin Nation Case Study (Canada)
Located at the northern end of the Salish Sea, Canada’s Tla’amin Nation has experienced disruptions in traditional foods due to colonization and climate change. Through their modern treaty and self-governance measures, the Nation places food security and sovereignty at the forefront of their Comprehensive Nation Plan (Goal 19).
In collaboration with the Tla’amin Nation, the Solving-FCB researchers have:
- Explored historical and contemporary food security dynamics pre- and post-treaty implementation.
- Conducted extensive community interviews on traditional diets, accessibility, and cultural practices.
- Assessed climate change impacts on critical marine species.
- Developed scenario-based modeling to predict future food security outcomes.
- Engaged community members through workshops and practical demonstrations at traditional food processing facilities.
2. Gulf of Nicoya Case Study (Costa Rica)
Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya exemplifies the complexity of sustaining small-scale fisheries amidst pressures from climate change, pollution, and overfishing. Working closely with the local NGO MarViva and coastal fishing communities, the project focuses on:
- Investigating how land-based activities impact marine ecosystems and fisheries.
- Modeling water quality and nutrient dynamics under various climate and land-use scenarios.
- Developing nature-based solutions, including mangrove restoration and innovative seaweed aquaculture practices.
- Facilitating co-creation of decision-support tools with local fishers through participatory workshops.
3. China Case Study
In China, the project examines sustainable aquaculture as a dual solution—enhancing food security while mitigating climate impacts. Key activities include:
- Mapping global suitability for seaweed farming and understanding its ecosystem service potential.
- Assessing climate change impacts on aquaculture productivity.
- Engaging policymakers through influential platforms such as the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) and the XMAS Symposium.
- Training and empowering early-career researchers to lead sustainability advancements in aquaculture.
4. West Africa Case Study (Ghana and Nigeria)
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing poses significant threats to livelihoods, biodiversity, and food security in West Africa. Solving-FCB’s research here involves:
- Evaluating economic and ecological effects of IUU fishing.
- Assessing microplastic pollution’s impact on marine life and human communities.
- Highlighting gender dynamics and women’s essential roles in fisheries trade and financing.
- Developing predictive models that consider climate-induced shifts in fish stocks and their interactions with IUU fishing activities.
5. The Netherlands Case Study
The Netherlands’ case study uniquely integrates four distinct food production systems—arable farming, livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture—within a sustainability framework. Researchers have:
- Explored policy approaches that promote nature-inclusive farming and food system resilience.
- Constructed conceptual models and causal loop diagrams to demonstrate interdependencies between sectors.
- Initiated the development of a comprehensive system dynamics model to examine trade-offs and synergies across different food production sectors.
Strengthening International Collaboration: Diplomatic Engagement
One of the standout elements of the Solving-FCB Costa Rica meeting was the active involvement of the Embassy of Canada to Costa Rica. The Canadian Ambassador’s presence and speech during the opening session underscored Canada’s commitment to these global sustainability challenges. The embassy further facilitated international dialogue by hosting diplomatic receptions, allowing project members to network, exchange ideas, and enhance international cooperation.
Importantly, this diplomatic support included practical assistance in overcoming barriers such as visa processes, significantly improving opportunities for project members to participate in global forums, including the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC).
Connecting Research to Community Realities: A Field Trip to the Gulf of Nicoya
Participants had the unique opportunity to directly engage with coastal fishing communities in the Gulf of Nicoya. This hands-on experience proved invaluable, providing firsthand insights into local challenges of food security, climate vulnerability, and biodiversity conservation.
Local initiatives showcased included:
- Mangrove Restoration: Community-driven restoration projects highlighted mangroves’ dual role as carbon sinks and essential habitats for fisheries, exemplifying nature-based climate solutions.
- Ecotourism Initiatives: The community’s innovative floating restaurant initiative demonstrated sustainable economic opportunities rooted in local seafood consumption, enhancing food security and resilience.
These interactions underscored the importance of integrating community knowledge and priorities into global sustainability research and interventions.
Moving Forward: Future Plans and Initiatives
Looking ahead, the Solving-FCB initiative outlined several strategic priorities for the upcoming years, including:
- Canada: Further refining marine biomass availability models under climate scenarios for targeted restoration in Tla’amin territory.
- Costa Rica: Completing hydrological and fisheries modeling, integrating results into participatory workshops, and influencing policy decisions.
- China: Expanding seaweed farming suitability analyses and integrating findings into national sustainability policies.
- West Africa: Enhancing research on IUU fishing impacts, initiating stakeholder workshops, and establishing an Inland and Blue Economy Centre in Ghana.
- The Netherlands: Advancing conceptual and system dynamics modeling to strengthen food system resilience strategies and policy recommendations.
- Cross-Project Integration: Organizing collaborative efforts and synthesizing findings for broader policy dialogues and international forums such as the UN Ocean Conference.
Emerging Themes: Building Equitable, Resilient, and Sustainable Food Systems
Several critical themes emerged from discussions, shaping the project’s continuing focus and priorities:
- Equitable Co-existence: Balancing fisheries, aquaculture, and biodiversity conservation through inclusive governance structures and participatory decision-making.
- Food Security: Understanding dietary shifts, climate impacts, and integrating global consumption data to inform sustainable food system designs.
- Ecosystem-Based Approaches: Leveraging nature-based solutions, like mangrove restoration, to build community and ecosystem resilience.
- Policy Engagement: Strengthening science-policy connections and enhancing participation in international platforms to translate research into practical, actionable strategies.
Conclusion: Looking Ahead to China
Overall, the Solving-FCB Costa Rica 2025 Meeting successfully advanced critical conversations and actions towards sustainable, climate-resilient, and biodiversity-supportive food systems. As the project moves forward, researchers and stakeholders remain committed to collaborative, evidence-based solutions that integrate local knowledge and global science.
The next Solving-FCB meeting is scheduled to take place in China, promising continued global exchanges and collective action towards equitable and sustainable food security futures.
