A recent study published in Nature Sustainability explores the potential of rice-fish coculturing as a means to combat schistosomiasis and poverty in the northern Senegal River basin. Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease affecting over 220 million people, poses a significant risk to rice farmers, who are exposed to freshwater snails that harbor the disease. The research, led by Jason Rohr from the University of Notre Dame, involved introducing native fish species, African Bonytongue and Nile tilapia, into rice fields. The findings revealed that this intervention not only reduced snail populations—thereby decreasing schistosomiasis transmission—but also increased rice yields by over 25% and improved soil nutrients. Additionally, the presence of fish provides a secondary income source through fish sales. The study suggests that rice-fish coculturing could serve as a model for sustainable development, addressing health, food security, and poverty simultaneously. Further research is planned to scale this approach across other schistosomiasis-endemic regions.