Aquaculture innovation system analysis of transition to sustainable intensification in shrimp farming

Abstract

The shrimp sector has been one of the fastest growing agri-food systems in the last decades, but its growth has entailed negative social and environmental impacts. Sustainable intensification will require innovation in multiple elements of the shrimp production system and its value chain. We use the case of the shrimp sector in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam to explore the constraints in the transition to sustainable intensification in shrimp farming, using an analytical framework based on innovation systems thinking, i.e., an aquaculture innovation systems framework. Using this framework, we conduct a systemic diagnostic of blocking mechanisms, interrelated sets of constraints within the aquaculture sector that hinder a transition toward sustainable intensification. Our findings show that the major constraints are institutional, with limited enforcement of the regulatory framework for input quality control, disease control, and wastewater management, and a lack of coordination between government bodies to design and enforce this framework. At farm level, limited access to capital favors pond mismanagement and the use of low-quality inputs. The absence of multi-stakeholder initiatives to foster dialog between actors in the value chain constrains the response to new regulations dictated by international market demand. Because of shrimp farming's connectivity with the wider ecosystem, sustainable intensification in shrimp farming will require collective management of water resources at the landscape level for disease and water pollution control. Ecological principles for pond management need to be promoted to farmers in order to reduce farmers' inefficient practices and build their capacity to understand new techniques and inputs available in the Vietnamese market. Our paper demonstrates for the utility of a multi-level, multi-dimension, and multi-stakeholder aquaculture innovation systems approach to analyze and address these blocking mechanisms in the transition to sustainable intensification in shrimp farming and aquaculture more broadly.

Maintaining Diversity of Integrated Rice and Fish Production Confers Adaptability of Food Systems to Global Change

“…An emerging paradigm shift in agronomy emphasizes support for local innovation to develop emergent and adaptive solutions that suit the heterogeneity of farmer-fisher contexts and objectives (Sinclair and Coe, 2019). Ensuring the alignment of innovations, institutions, and policies is also necessary for effective transformation (Horlings and Marsden, 2011;Bezner Kerr, 2012;Joffre et al, 2018). The suite of production practices represented in the RFPP typology allow for continued testing and refining of innovations to further improve nutrition, equity, and environmental outcomes.…”

“…Production of fish fingerlings in alternating culture has emerged as aquaculture growth has boosted the demand for fingerlings, particularly in Indonesia (Costa-Pierce, 1992) and Bangladesh (Barman and Little, 2006). Recent research investigates technical and social innovations that might improve institutional arrangements among stakeholders and across scales (Joffre et al, 2018;Nguyen et al, 2020). A primary focus of this research is to improve management of organic and agrochemical effluents from culture ponds and rice cropping (Joffre et al, 2018).…”

“…Recent research investigates technical and social innovations that might improve institutional arrangements among stakeholders and across scales (Joffre et al, 2018;Nguyen et al, 2020). A primary focus of this research is to improve management of organic and agrochemical effluents from culture ponds and rice cropping (Joffre et al, 2018).…”

“…Semi-intensive rice-shrimp culture can release exotic species, nutrient loads, and anti-biotic and agrochemical residues, even though rice-shrimp producers tend to report lower application of pesticides and antibiotics than in intensive shrimp culture (Be et al, 1999;Binh et al, 2018;Braun et al, 2019). Promotion of rice-shrimp management practices that limit nutrient discharge and restore connectivity between the plot and the wider ecosystem (e.g., Joffre et al, 2018) could mitigate some of the environmental and health concerns of high-input practices.…”

Effects of dietary supplementation of Astragalus membranaceus , Codonopsis pilosula , and Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract mixture on growth performance, haematological parameters and hepatopancreatic performance in juvenile Pacific white shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei )

“…Pacific white shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei ) is one of the main cultured shrimp species because of its valuable traits such as fast growth, high yield and adaptability to wide ranges of salinity and temperature (Hernández R., Bückle R., Palacios, & Barón S., ). Although, the current trend of intensive culture strategies negatively affects shrimp health, resulting in impaired functions of hepatopancreas and immunity (Joffre, Klerkx, & Khoa, ). Hepatopancreas is an important organ in shrimp and represents the key organ in the metabolism, detoxification and secretory functions (Gibson & Barker, ).…”