Aquaculture Innovations and Food Safety in Africa: Insights from African Catfish Value Chain in Nigeria

  1. Emmanuel Olatunbosun Benjamin
  2. Wubneshe Dessalegn Biru
  3. Oreoluwa Ola
  4. Gertrud Buchenrieder

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Abstract

Aquaculture is vital for food security and livelihoods across Africa, especially Nigeria. Yet conventional production faces sustainability and health challenges, including effluent discharge, and weak food safety oversight. Aquaponics and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) offer climate-smart, water-efficient alternatives that integrate African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and vegetable production within circular food systems. A value chain analysis for development (VCA4D) was conducted for conventional aquaculture, aquaponics and RAS to assess their functional, economic, social, and environmental dimensions in Nigeria. Data was collected from five producers and three processors in Lagos and Ogun States through surveys, experimental prototype, and stakeholder consultations. Conventional aquaculture systems generated higher short-term profits, with limited food safety measures, and imposed greater environmental costs for 1 kg of African Catfish of EUR 2.25. Aquaponics and RAS delivered water efficiency, food safety potential, and social benefits, though profitability was constrained by energy costs and scale. Scaling aquaponics and RAS requires enabling policies, including renewable energy subsidies, credit schemes, simplified certification systems, and capacity building to promote sustainable, safe, and inclusive aquaculture value chains.

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  1. PREreview

    This Zenodo record is a permanently preserved version of a Structured PREreview. You can view the complete PREreview at https://prereview.org/reviews/17928855.

    Does the introduction explain the objective of the research presented in the preprint? Yes By showing how aquaponics and RAS can outperform conventional systems in resource efficiency, food safety, and socio-economic benefits, while offering actionable guidance for building climate-smart, inclusive aquaculture value chains in Africa, with particular relevance to Nigeria's catfish-dominated sector.
    Are the methods well-suited for this research? Somewhat appropriate 1. Sample Size Limitations need to be better justified, because the study includes very few producers and processors. Though the authors acknowledge this, but the justification needs strengthening. 2. How was data validated beyond stating "stakeholder event"? 3. What were the inclusion/exclusion criteria? 4. Profitability Analysis Needs Sensitivity Testing: consider adding sensitivity analysis and scenario modelling
    Are the conclusions supported by the data? Highly supported
    Are the data presentations, including visualizations, well-suited to represent the data? Highly appropriate and clear
    How clearly do the authors discuss, explain, and interpret their findings and potential next steps for the research? Somewhat clearly 1. The discussion section though very rich could be broken down into sub-themes for easy reading. 2. The work can benefit from more of gender analysis, as some in-depth understanding of the disparity will be good such as why, limiting factors and policies. 3. A bit more discussion on limitations around Food Safety Data (e.g How food safety risks were assessed)
    Is the preprint likely to advance academic knowledge? Highly likely 1. This study has brought to light a very significant baseline social impact analysis for aquaponics and RAS in Nigeria. 2. It provided real numbers, cost-benefit tables, and environmental factors which is very useful for policymakers. 3. It draws on up-to-date studies (2020–2025), linking Nigerian realities to global sustainability and circular economy debates. 4. The recommendations for renewable energy, credit access, certification, and gender mainstreaming are realistic and actionable.
    Would it benefit from language editing? No
    Would you recommend this preprint to others? Yes, it's of high quality This is a strong, timely, and highly relevant preprint with great potential for journal publication after revisions. It addresses a major gap in African food systems research and provides actionable insights for sustainable aquaculture practices.
    Is it ready for attention from an editor, publisher or broader audience? Yes, after minor changes 1. The methodology transparency, sample justification, gender analysis, and sectored discussion will benefit the study 2. Clear research questions should be added aside the outlines written in the objectives. 3. Expand on Limitations Around Food Safety Data

    Competing interests

    The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

    Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    The authors declare that they did not use generative AI to come up with new ideas for their review.

  2. Version published to 10.20944/preprints202509.2382.v1