These files contain datasets, data collection tools, and the stata code used to clean and analyze the data. The replication files are for the paper titled “Endowments, Expectations, and the Value of Food Safety Certification: Experimental Evidence from Fish Markets in Nigeria”. The paper studies the impact of endowments and expectations on reference point formation and measures the value of food safety certification in the context of fish trading on real markets in Nigeria. In the field experiment, consumers can trade a known food item for a novel food item that is superior in terms of food safety––or vice versa. The dataset contains willingness to pay and willingness to accept bids as well as exchange probabilities. In addition, the dataset contains post-experiment survey data.

Data used for analyses detailed in Hamilton MG, Yeasin M, Alam MB, Ali MR, Fakhruddin M, Islam MM, Barman BK, Shikuku KM, Shelley CC, Rossignoli CM and Benzie JAH (2022) On-farm performance of genetically-improved rohu (Labeo rohita) in Bangladesh. Front. Aquac. 1:1060335. doi: 10.3389/faquc.2022.1060335

Timor-Leste is one of the world’s most malnourished nations where micronutrient-deficient diets are a contributing factor to the prevalence of child stunting, currently estimated to be 45.6% of children under five. Fish are an important source of nutrients and one that may assist the country’s predominantly rural population of agriculturalists to exit poverty and malnutrition. However, a small national fishing fleet producing low catch volumes places fish out of reach of most inland and upland populations where it is needed most. Fish consumption is very low in rural, inland areas compared to coastal, regional, and global averages. This study is a one-year, partially masked, cluster-randomized controlled trial among families living in rural, inland Timor-Leste. We aim to test and compare the effects of two treatments, alone and in combination, on the frequency and volume of household fish consumption in rural, inland areas as a proxy for improved dietary diversity and micronutrient intake. Treatment 1 is the installation of nearshore, moored fish aggregating devices (FADs) to improve catch rates with existing fishing gears. Treatment 2 is a social and behaviour change (SBC) activity to promote fish consumption. Villages in inland communities will be randomized to receive treatment 1, treatment 2, both treatments, or neither treatment. Data will be collected at baseline (prior to the rollout of the treatments) and endline. Our study will determine the impact of an improved supply of fish, along with nutrition-oriented SBC activities, on the fish purchasing and consumption practices of rural, inland households. Findings from this study are urgently needed by Small Island Developing States to guide policy and investment decisions on how best to improve households’ diets using locally available, nutrient-dense foods such as fish. Investments such as these are needed to break the cycle of malnutrition. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04729829).

A nationally representative characterization study is planned for implementation in May and June 2021 in Delta and Ogun states, Nigeria. The purpose is to collect data to characterize existing aquaculture farming systems and livelihoods in rural Nigeria and assess farmers’ willingness to pay for genetically improved seed. The baseline study will generate evidence about farmers’ interest and motivation to adopt (1) genetically improved farmed tilapia and (2) implement integrated fish-poultry farming. The study will also provide: (1) recommendations for targeted interventions to support adoption of genetically improved fish seeds and farming systems; (2) insights and evidence about demand for improved seed and expected market penetration; (3) potential social, economic, and environmental impacts associated with adoption of improved fish seeds and farming systems.

There are several ongoing efforts across the CGIAR to assess the impacts of covid-19 on food value chains. WorldFish is focusing on impacts on aquatic foods systems. It is presently implementing a survey of covid-19 impacts in 6 countries, including India to track change in prices and availability of fish and fish production inputs across value chains through bi-weekly ten-minute interviews. Preliminary results from the survey have shown that employment fell, ability to access transport for inputs and fish reduced, and consumers’ effective demand for fish decreased during February to May 2020. However, it is increasingly recognized that the impacts of the covid-19 pandemic and the response measures on food value chains are complex, heterogeneous and dynamic. This necessitates the need for regular assessments of the impacts (Amjath-Babu et al., 2020). Furthermore, studies on impacts of covid-19 are often based on small samples raising questions about their external validity. The current proposed study aims at assessing the impacts of the covid-19 pandemic on fish value chains in India. The specific objectives are threefold: 1) to assess the impacts of covid-19 on access by fish value chain actors to inputs including seed, feed, labour, lime, water quality improvement chemicals, and other raw materials required for production, processing, packaging, or marketing of fish; 2) to assess the impact of covid-19 on fish production and sales; 3) to assess the impacts of covid-19 on access to markets by value chain actors including impacts on sales, prices, and competition. The study leverages ongoing efforts by expanding the scope and scale of the WorldFish survey by increasing sample coverage and adding more detailed questions including impacts on competition.

Fish and aquatic foods provide more than 3.3 billion people worldwide with 20 percent of their dietary animal protein needs. In many developing countries, fish is particularly important in the diets and livelihoods of poor people suffering from vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Interventions aimed at minimizing potential health hazards within food-producing sectors including aquatic food systems are necessary for increased contribution to socioeconomic development. Ensuring food safety is, particularly, imperative to addressing the problem of foodborne diseases (FBDs), which caused 420,000 deaths and 33 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) worldwide in 2010. Low- and middle-income countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa account for 53 percent of all foodborne illnesses, 75 percent of FBD-related deaths, and 72 percent of FBD-related DALYs. Therefore, interventions targeted to these regions are likely to reduce vulnerability to FBDs. Among interventions that have received considerable attention is certification for food safety. Food safety issues occur at all stages of the value chain. Funded by CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM), the project, “Demand for Seafood Safety and Environmental Sustainability Standards in Sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Nigeria” designs studies to investigate three questions addressing safety along fish and seafood supply chains: 1) How much premiums are consumers willing to pay (WTP) for food safety certification; 2) Assuming there is willingness to pay WTP, how and to what extent does consumer demand get transmitted to producers; and 3) How willing and able are farmers to change and improve their practices in response to consumer demand? The first phase assessed consumer demand for fish food safety certification and found willingness to pay positive premiums in Nigeria’s domestic markets. The current study focuses on aquaculture producers. Studies have shown that quality improvement at producer level can generate positive externalities at other segments of the value chain with overall welfare improvement to consumers. Extending research carried out in the first phase, this study uses a randomized controlled trial to understand the extent to which the premiums can be transmitted back to producers; to assess farmers’ willingness to adopt quality improvement practices; and to evaluate how participation in safety certification affects their incomes and livelihoods.

Aquaculture plays a crucial role in Egypt’s economic development contributing substantially to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. However, contexts are increasingly changing and characterized by shifts in dietary needs, more integrated value chains, globalization, population dynamics, and climate change. An enhanced understanding of aquaculture’s performance under these rapidly changing contexts is necessary. Yet the ability to generate the required knowledge is often constrained by lack of accurate data about integrated on-farm performance of aquaculture systems. In efforts to address this gap, the current study is a collaboration between WorldFish and Sketting to assess the on-farm performance of tilapia aquaculture systems in Egypt. A detailed baseline survey was implemented in Kafr el Sheikh Governorate covering 402 tilapia aquaculture farm households. The baseline survey interviewed farm owners and managers. The information collected provides an important benchmark against which targeted interventions can be implemented and monitored to improve tilapia aquaculture production.

In order to guide the dissemination process of genetically improved carp seed in Bangladesh, a strategy document has been developed. A central component of the dissemination strategy for genetically improved carps is tracking sales by partner and non-partner hatcheries. Tracking is important to ensure quality seed is reaching the intended beneficiaries in adequate amounts and in a timely and inclusive manner. It is also an integral component of the commercialization plan for the Carps Genetic Improvement Program (CGIP). Dissemination will be monitored within the wider seed delivery system using both quantitative and qualitative indicators of performance. The data collected will provide evidence required to support marketing of genetically improved carp seed.

The current proposed study aims at assessing the impacts of the covid-19 pandemic on fish value chains in India. The specific objectives are threefold: 1) to assess the impacts of covid-19 on access by fish value chain actors to inputs including seed, feed, labour, lime, water quality improvement chemicals, and other raw materials required for production, processing, packaging, or marketing of fish; 2) to assess the impact of covid-19 on fish production and sales; to assess the impacts of covid-19 on access to markets by value chain actors including impacts on sales, prices, and competition. The study leverages ongoing efforts by expanding the scope and scale of the WorldFish survey by increasing sample coverage and adding more detailed questions including impacts on competition.

Well-functioning fish seed systems are crucial for human nutrition and improved livelihoods. Yet fish seed systems have received considerably little attention in the diffusion process for genetically improved strains. This study examined how seed systems of genetically improved fish strains function, assessed constraints faced, and explored entry-points to increased diffusion. To address these objectives, the study combined the seed systems performance assessment framework with innovation systems thinking. Data came from participatory multi-stakeholder workshops and interviews with tilapia hatchery operators and grow-out farmers in Bangladesh. We found that tilapia seed production and dissemination was profitable and cost-effective indicating a business case for supply chain actors. However, there were several binding constraints including low adoption of elite broodstock, vulnerability to weather shocks and diseases, poor quality of complementary inputs, intermittent electricity supply, hidden costs of seed transportation, and limited market access. These constraints and their causes interacted, creating systemic lock-ins through blocking mechanisms related to incomplete enforcement of regulatory frameworks to control hatchery practices and quality of inputs; limited knowledge about broodstock management, quality seed production, and disease management; weak adaptive capacity to weather shocks; and limited access to credit. Projects, programs, and policies targeted at accelerating adoption of good quality fish seed should focus on the following important aspects. First, strengthening institutional capacity to monitor and enforce quality control. Second, increasing advocacy and knowledge transfer about benefits and sources of elite broodstock. Third, promoting adoption of better management practices by hatcheries and farmers including adaptation to weather shocks. Fourth, leveraging partnerships with local service providers as intermediaries. Fifth, using social networks for information diffusion among farmers.