By cultivating fish populations in a controlled environment, the Harbor Branch Oceanic Institute of Florida Atlantic may be able to bring this practice to countries that face food shortages.

The institute is partnering with Aquaculture without Frontiers — an international nonprofit organization.

The two organizations hope to train farmers and establish stable aquatic farms in Africa and eventually South America.

Megan Davis, the Harbor Branch interim executive director, said that HBOI is excited to partner with Aquaculture without Frontiers, and believes that the facilitation of “self-sufficiency and sustainability” plays a crucial role toward the solution of world hunger, according to a news release highlighting the partnership.

Starvation is the leading cause of death globally, ahead of AIDS and malaria, as stated by the World Food Programme, the food assistance branch of the U.N.

Aquaculture — also known as “fish or shellfish farming” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s definition — is an efficient means of fish and seafood production and a large contributor of food resources to the United States. Aquaculture without Frontiers plans to bring this practice to struggling international markets to increase resources and combat starvation.

Carin Smith, spokeswoman for HBOI, said, “Aquaculture without Frontiers is looking for safer practices from HBOI scientists to utilize in the private industry.”

Smith added that the partnership will also be environmentally responsible thanks to the input from the Oceanic Institute.

According to a Treasure Coast Palm article, the institute’s spokeswoman Gisele Galoustian said that a special benefit will go to its parent, FAU’s Boca Raton campus, to aid in promoting its teaching, research and world stature.

Tucker Berardi is a staff writer for the University Press. To contact him regarding this or other stories, he can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter.