Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, Minister of Industry and Trade, was right to present a prize in the EcoTrophelia Ísland competition run by Matís, together with the Icelandic Innovation Center, the University of Iceland and numerous institutions at home and abroad. The award was presented at Nýsköpunartorgi Samtaka iðnaðarinn held today and tomorrow in Reykjavík University.
EcoTrophelia Iceland is part of international competition and is a product development competition among university students that involves developing environmentally friendly food. The aim of the competition is to reduce the environmental impact of Icelandic food production by creating new environmentally friendly food and beverage products. These include the use of underutilized raw materials, the use of new and environmentally friendly production methods, packaging or modes of transport. The competition is run by the Icelandic Innovation Center, Matís and the Confederation of Icelandic Industries in collaboration with Icelandic universities.
Two teams competed for the finals this year. The other team consists of Brynja Einarsdóttir, Guðjóna Björk Þorbjarnardóttir and Hrefna Lind Einarsdóttir and they had the product BEjuicy which is a freeze-dried vegetable juice in powder form. The other team consists of Christopher Melin and Páll Arnar Hauksson with the product Fjöra which is kelp mayonnaise. It so happened that the intestinal mayonnaise was chosen the winner of Ecotrophelia Iceland this time.
Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, Minister of Industry and Trade, presents the EcoTrophelia Iceland 2014 award.
Fjaran mayonnaise is a fun innovation in the food market. The mayonnaise is made from Icelandic seaweed and the seaweed is sun-dried on Icelandic lava. The product is suitable for vegetarians (vegans) as well as others who are interested in adding nutrients to their diet. Further information can be found on the product's website, http://www.p.is/fjara/.
For further information Ragnheiður Héðinsdóttir, director of the food division at the Confederation of Icelandic Industries and Guðjón Þorkelsson, division manager at Matís.
Are you interested in creating a product? Matís food factories are an ideal venue.