RWU and RIIC Host 2024 International Aquaculture Conference

BRISTOL, R.I. – As aquaculture continues to be one of the fastest-growing food industries across the world, Roger Williams University and the Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative are setting the table for national and international experts to come together and collaborate on marine food production and mariculture innovations at the 2024 International Aquaculture Conference.   

Co-sponsored by RWU’s Center for Economic and Environmental Development and the Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative, the International Aquaculture Conference will take place on Monday, June 3 and Tuesday, June 4, 2024, on Roger Williams University’s Bristol, R.I., campus. Featuring top mariculture experts from around the world, the two-day conference will focus on the application of biotechnology in aquaculture and the role of novel, innovative research to produce sustainable products and food safety solutions for the global aquaculture industry. 

“In order to address the intersecting challenges of climate change on global food supplies and a growing global population that continues to exert pressure on food production, we need to be adaptive and innovative in our solutions. The Roger Williams University Center for Economic and Environmental Development and Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative are excited to convene the world’s leading experts in aquaculture science to share the cutting-edge work happening around the globe. We aim to enable connections that will put research and innovation into action, working toward sustainability and ecosystem health,” said Koty Sharp, Director of RWU’s Center for Economic and Environmental Development. 

“We at the Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative are delighted to help initiate and be part of this important conference,” said Avi Nevel, founder and CEO of the Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative. “This is a great opportunity to connect experts from Rhode Island and Israel in the field of aquaculture, which is so critical for the future of the world. We are sure that the conference will yield results in creating collaboration between experts in the field in Rhode Island, Israel, and beyond.” 

The conference will showcase experts presenting the latest aquaculture innovations and trends in three areas: bottleneck solutions for aquaculture production; innovation approaches for management, diagnostics, and health of aquatic organisms; and biotechnology and marine natural products. The event will also offer opportunities for networking and collaboration among participating countries, academic institutions, and industry, as well as student research presentations.  

With a world-class marine shellfish and finfish aquaculture program, RWU is a leader in advancing Rhode Island’s Blue Economy through its Center for Economic and Environmental Development, which is home to a shellfish hatchery, a shellfish farm, tropical marine fish aquaculture and aquarium science program, a microbiology and biotechnology program, and the region’s only Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory. CEED's mission is to provide collaborative marine research, industry support, marine education, public outreach, engagement, and extension to institutions, businesses and communities. In 2022, RWU received $1.6 million in federal funding from U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse to develop smart strategies and support to help shellfish farms become stronger and more productive, and to help new shellfish and aquaculture businesses start up across Rhode Island.  

As part of the Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative’s mission to foster and strengthen business, academic exchange, and research between Rhode Island and Israel, the nonprofit organization collaborates with universities, government agencies, and businesses to help the Ocean State achieve its Blue Economy goals. 

Aquaculture experts are invited to apply to present at the conference by contacting Galit Sharon, Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory at RWU, at gsharon@rwu.edu. For sponsorship opportunities, email Avi Nevel at anevel@theriic.org or visit https://avinevel.wixsite.com/aquaculture-rhode-is/sponsorship. 

For more information about the conference, and to register, visit https://avinevel.wixsite.com/aquaculture-rhode-is.