AKVAREFORMA

AKVAREFORMA AS 'ambition is to contribute to developing a more sustainable aquaculture industry.  To succeed, we will establish a new comprehensive system for salmon farming. From a cluster of existing knowledge put together in a circular economy framework, production will be more sustainable and have great development opportunities.

Within the framework under which Norwegian fish farming works today , the opportunities for volume growth are reduced by factors such as access to sustainable feed, salmon lice and disease. Our solution is to combine several known technologies where salmon farming will be produced in closed cages in the sea, and the fish fed on locally grown feed from low-trophic aquatic biomass.  

Feed accounts for up to 83 per cent of Norwegian salmon's greenhouse gas emissions  and is due to the use of soy and fishmeal from South America.

"(Greenhouse gas emissions of Norwegian seafood products in 2017, updated figures 20 May 2020)."

"In addition, 75 percent of the content of Norwegian salmon feed comes from land."  "Nofima.Aas, TS, et al. 2019. Utilization of feed resources in the production of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Norway."  

The rising sea temperatures that we observe can also reduce the production capacity of today's plants. The industry is facing major challenges that the authorities will set new and stricter requirements for. Land rent was proposed to be introduced as a result of the industry utilizing common areas for its own gain. Strengthening lobbying against the authorities is a common problem solver for the industry today. ("The basis for the new traffic light system is not good enough," says the aquaculture companies that are filing lawsuits against the Ministry of Trade and Industry. "Sunnmøringen 3.7).  

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With a comprehensive circular aquaculture solution  this area will be used with less environmental impact, and could expand the potential for increased values for all. In our time frame, this concept is in full scale within 10 years where we play on a team with nature.

Especially is  insect production, tunic cultivation and sludge treatment little developed in fish farming. They are particularly good candidates for development. The use of sludge is a good candidate for bioenergy and fertilization of, among other things, vegetable production. We have a high level of expertise in several fields that can be part of maturing this concept.

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The technology for closed cages is in rapid development and the FLO Sjø network is already working on many solutions. Controlled systems provide a significant improvement in fish health (Akvafuture AS), which is important in order to increase the volume and reduce feed waste.

It is our claim that a combination of low-trophic ingredients together with self-produced insect protein from marine protein will improve the quality and condition of the fish. The new salmon volume we initiate will also have a smaller climate impact than current salmon production, which in the long run will be very good for the reputation of the entire industry.  

AKVAREFORMA AS, through Morten K. Midtbø, has an agreement for the use of the cultivation patent (NO20171632 (A1) - SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR CULTIVATING AND HARVESTING AQUATIC BIOMASS) developed together with Ivar Andreassen in Akvatotal AS

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The raw material must have a marine origin only and be free of any kind of artificial additives. The feed will consist of, among other things, low-trophic organisms such as kelp, marsupials, mussels and insect protein. This will reduce or preferably fully replace imported fishmeal, palm oil, rapeseed and soy.  

Through upscaling and streamlining of feed production, there is good reason to believe that we will be able to produce salmon at an affordable price. The fish becomes what it eats. Thus, one can produce quality salmon with a higher potential sales price than salmon produced in today's traditional linear system.

Surveys among many feed producers  and in the market in general shows that there is a willingness to pay well for quality fish that can provide good profitability in today's market. We have no doubt that such a salmon will create a standard for what the market will demand! It is also possible to use the feed material for, among other things, chicken, pig, dog, cat food and health food. We are looking at several possibilities within marine bioprospecting that may be relevant later.