Professor Suresh A. Sethi, director of Brooklyn College’s Aquatic Research and Environmental Assessment Center (AREAC), co-authored a new study published in the prestigious journal Science Advances that offers a promising roadmap for sustainable food production in the Amazon.
The research examines the rapid growth of aquaculture across the region and finds that future expansion can occur without additional rainforest loss by developing fish farms on already-degraded pasture lands. By repurposing landscapes that have previously been altered for agriculture, aquaculture producers can increase fish production while reducing pressure on intact forest ecosystems.
The findings address one of the world’s most pressing challenges: meeting growing demand for protein while safeguarding critical natural resources. The study demonstrates how strategic land-use planning can support economic growth, strengthen food security, and advance conservation efforts in the Amazon, a region that plays an essential role in global biodiversity and climate regulation.
Read the study in Science Advances here.
