About

The AQUADAPT program is concerned with how the aquaculture sector could adapt to climate change and at the same time be sustainable. The program has been primarily funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. Two projects under this program have been led by the Unit for Social and Environmental Research (USER) at Chiang Mai University (2012-2020) with a third in progress (2023-2027).

AQUADAPT-Thailand (2012-2016) had an empirical focus on Tilapia grown in farm ponds or floating cages in rivers and reservoirs in Northern Thailand.

AQUADAPT-Mekong (2017-2020) had a much broader geographical scope with activities in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.  It aimed to assist fish farmers in the five countries better manage climate-related risks, and thus capacities to adapt to climate change, through jointly evaluating and supporting the development or uptake of promising innovations.

AQUADAPT-Nature (2023-2027) will increase the available sustainable options for small and medium-scale aquaculture farms that are facing climate change challenges in Thailand and Vietnam. It will support the innovation, evaluation, and, where and when appropriate, adoption of inclusive nature-based climate solutions (NbCS) to evolving climatic, ecological, and social conditions.

AQUADADPT-Nature is part of the Nature-based Climate Solutions in Aquacultural Food Systems in Asia-Pacific initiative (AQUADAPT), which is co-funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and IDRC. AQUADAPT is a 4-year, CA$23 million initiative aimed at driving research-action toward inclusive nature-based climate solutions and at better understanding how such solutions can contribute to climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and food security across the Asia-Pacific region.