In November 2025, the World Food Programme (WFP) published its 2026 Global Outlook entitled Hunger and hope: Innovative solutions to address food insecurity, which highlighted that 318m people are facing food insecurity—more than double pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The 35-page document makes for sombre reading, with nearly 38m children under five acutely malnourished and 16 hunger hotspots where food security is expected to deteriorate between November 2025 and May 2026.

Yet nowhere in the report, which looks to innovation as a key enabler of the WFP’s Strategic Plan 2026-2029, are blue foods or indeed any ocean-driven innovations mentioned as potential solutions. Although many of the countries affected have access to a coastline, conflict—which is the lead cause of hunger and malnutrition—is likely to hinder the development of blue foods.

In regions facing extreme weather and economic pressures, the other two drivers of acute food insecurity, blue foods have the potential to drive innovation for food insecurity. Moreover, “hidden hunger”, the deficiency of micronutrients, is a global health issue affecting over 2bn people, who may consume enough calories but lack essential vitamins and minerals.

So how can blue foods help?

To read the full blog and find out how Chris Gorell Barnes believes blue foods can help escalating food insecurity, click here.