Author: admin

News

Exciting program at the North Atlantic Seafood Forum

Contact

Jónas Rúnar Viðarsson

Director of Business and Development

jonas@matis.is

Since 2005, the North Atlantic Seafood forum (NASF) has been an annual event where managers and stakeholders in the fishing industry and aquaculture meet in Bergen to learn about the main innovations and compare books. This time, NASF will be held on March 7-9. and about 1000 people are expected to attend the event. In recent years, online participation in the event has been offered, but this time, that option will not be offered. The program is particularly exciting this time, as a total of over 150 lectures will be given in 26 seminars. Don't miss this event!

Since 2005, managers and stakeholders in the fishing and aquaculture industry have flocked to Bergen annually to attend the NASF conference. The target group of this three-day conference has traditionally been managers in the fishing industry, aquaculture and related industries, ie. device manufacturers, marketing companies, banks, insurance companies, carriers, consulting companies, etc. Despite the cost of participation, between 800 and 1,000 people have attended the event each year, which shows how important this conference is to the target audience. The program this year is particularly exciting and has been published on nor-seafood.com.

If we take a look at the program, the following seminars deserve special attention:

  • Aquaculture salmon market
  • Land-based aquaculture and new tech
  • Aquafeed summit
  • Global whitefish summit
  • Pelagic industry summit
  • Shrimp summit
  • Sustainability seminar
  • Seafood investor seminar
  • Decarbonization summit

As often before, Icelandic companies and individuals occupy a large place in the program. First of all, it should be mentioned that Marel and Benchmark Genetics/Stofnfisk are among the main sponsors of the conference and will also have presentations on the latest things that the companies have to offer. Then Landeldi will have a presentation of its structure, and most of the Icelandic aquaculture companies will also have presentations in the investor seminar section.

In recent years, fewer people have come to NASF than they want to, as it is a unique opportunity to meet all the key managers and influencers in the fisheries and aquaculture industry in one place, and hear what is the latest in the industry. Accommodation in Bergen is going fast during the event, so we encourage people to register early. Registration is taking place here.

Those who want to learn more about the event can contact jonas@matis.is or by phone 4225107.

News

Food Nutrient Database - New and improved interface

Contact

Ólafur Reykdal

Project Manager

olafur.reykdal@matis.is

Matís received a grant from the Food Fund in 2022 to work on the project New solutions for work on food labeling. The project is specifically intended to make it easier for small food producers to meet the requirements for labeling new products. The Association of Small Food Producers (SSFM) is a partner in the project.

For this purpose, work has been done on guidelines, the collection of data on raw materials and their registration in the Icelandic database on the chemical content of food (ÍSGEM) at Matís. Work has also been done on the development of a simple calculator to present the nutritional value of products. Finally has presentation of nutritional value information on the Matís website has been improved. You can search for food types and ingredients on the Matís website and a list of nutrients will appear. The presentation is now much clearer than before and the nutrients are divided into categories. It turned out that data for some of the nutrients had become old and unreliable, so information is published on fewer substances than before. Matís collaborated with Ívar Gunnarsson, a computer scientist at Hugsjá, on this project, and he is credited with the programming work.

News

Value creation in Icelandic aquaculture

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Contact

Gunnar Þórðarson

Regional Manager

gunnar.thordarson@matis.is

Side streams in aquaculture are mostly divided into two categories, ie. K2, which is a fish that dies by itself in pens, and K3, which is offal that occurs during slaughter, as well as heads, spines and trimmings that occur during processing. Raw materials from K2 may not be processed for human consumption or in feed for animals bred for human consumption, and therefore other markets must be considered, for example pet or fur animals. However, K3 can go into production for human consumption or in the feed of animals consumed by humans.

This is a significant amount that is added as a by-product of aquaculture in Iceland. More than five thousand tons of K2 and more than two thousand tons in K3 are expected. Today, these raw materials are mostly processed into malt, which is exported to Norway for further processing into animal feed. Processing of by-products from fillet processing has been frozen and used to make feed for fur farming.

Spontaneously dead fish from pens (K2) are immediately processed on board feed barges and delivered to local Norwegian buyers on board cargo ships. Due to the limited use of this raw material, the values are below the cost price of smelt production. There are more possibilities for the production of digestate from K3, which can be used to make feed for farm animals and even for human consumption, which increases the value considerably. It has been agreed with buyers that if they take K2, they will also get K3, without payment for products of both categories.

In this project "Value creation in Icelandic aquaculture", which was partially financed by the AVS research fund in the fishing industry/Food Fund, points out ways to increase value creation in digestate processing. The project looked for ways to reduce costs and increase value in the production of digestate from the by-streams of aquaculture, where in particular the aim was to reduce transport costs by processing the digestate more, removing fish oil and water from it, which reduces volume and weight during transport and gives the opportunity to work it into more expensive products. Salmon farming in Iceland today is spread across East Iceland and Vestfjörður, in addition to extensive land farming being prepared in at least three locations in the South, and therefore it is important to find solutions to collect and transport the side raw materials from fire and slaughter to further processing, but considerable equipment needed for that.

The project explores important possibilities in the utilization of K2 and K3, which until now has been a cost for the fish farm and could turn it into value creation. To advance these ideas, it is necessary for the research community to work closely with aquaculture companies and regulatory authorities.

  • The thickening is carried out by steaming under vacuum which takes place at 30-50°C and therefore the properties of the proteins are mostly preserved. But during drying, some of these properties are degraded due to the high evaporation temperature during drying.
  • In the future, it would be possible to think of using concentrate directly in feed production and omitting the drying step, which is costly (capital costs are high and also operating costs) and not environmentally friendly. In this way, it would be possible to significantly reduce soot during this processing and the feed would be more environmentally friendly.

To move forward, it is important to develop these ideas in collaboration with the industry and the research community. It is also important that the government and regulatory bodies get involved in order to ensure that the regulatory framework is in line with the needs and requirements of all stakeholders.

News

See the TV program about the project Green entrepreneurs of the future

Contact

Justine Vanhalst

Project Manager

justine@matis.is

A special TV program dedicated to the Matís project Green entrepreneurs of the future was shown on the TV station N4 recently.

One of the main outcomes of the project was teaching material about climate change and its effects on the ocean, marine ecosystems, fisheries and communities. The teaching material, which includes, among other things, teaching instructions, information, tasks, games and experiments, is aimed at students in the oldest grades of elementary school and will be trialled in three elementary schools in the school year 2021-2022.

Watch the episode here:

News

Matís is advertising for a project manager in Vestmannaeyjar

Contact

Tinna Brá Sigurðardóttir

Director of Human Resources

tinnabra@matis.is

Vestmannaeyja Knowledge Center (ÞSV) and Matís ohf. wish to hire a project manager for a 100% job, about a 50% job at each company. The workplace is in the creative environment of ÞSV and partners at Ægisgatu 2 in Vestmannaeyjar.

The main part of the work at ÞSV, in collaboration with its manager, consists of carrying out regional projects on behalf of the Association of Southern Municipalities (SASS) according to a special agreement. Including providing advice in the field of employment and culture and overseeing grants for more interesting projects in the field of regional development in the South. 

The work at Matís is related to procurement, planning and participation in national and international research and innovation projects in the field of sustainable food production. The office in Vestmannaeyjar will be in good contact with food producers in the whole of the South. The person concerned will provide services including food research, consultancy and grant applications to research funds in collaboration with other Matís experts.

Area of work: 

■ Cooperation with companies, individuals and municipalities on regional development and innovation in the South  

■ Business and operational consulting 

■ Project procurement and assistance with project financing, such as by preparing grant applications 

■ Project management 

Qualification requirements: 

■ Education that is useful in work, for example food science, fisheries science, engineering, business science or technical education 

■ Good interpersonal skills 

■ Good oral and written communication skills 

■ Initiative, independence and ambition 

All genders are encouraged to apply. Applications must be accompanied by a detailed CV as well as the phone number or email address of the recommender.  

More information about the job is provided by:  

Hörður Baldvinsson, co. ÞSV hbald@setur.is simi 841 7710 and Jónas R. Viðarsson, department manager at Matís jonas@matis.is 422 5107. 

The application deadline is 13 November

Proceed to the application page

Photo credit: Shutterstock

News

Additives for food production
– Matís' new face

The original look and logo of Matís was designed when the company was founded in 2007. The logo has served us well over the years, but now it's time to renew the logo and refresh the image of the company in line with new times and screen media. At the same time, we want to take advantage of the opportunity and sharpen our message and uniqueness in value creation in food production, public health and food safety in the country.

With the latest technology and science, we can now estimate what was previously unthinkable. We support companies and organizations in food production with knowledge, research and ingenuity. Our goal is to make the production of consumer goods more sustainable, more economical and healthier, as well as to develop ways to improve food security in the world.

Additives for food production

Matís' new symbol is a drop, a supplement. We make good better, extend the life of food and are food production supplements. Communication with business partners is a matter of our hearts, and the drop can also represent a speech bubble as a sign of that.

ENNEMM advertising agency was responsible for the design of Matís' new look.

News

New method for monitoring the seabed ecosystem during fish farming in sea cages

Contact

Davíð Gíslason

Project Manager

davidg@matis.is

Matís, RORUM, the University of Iceland, the Technical University of Denmark (Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, DTU) and Fiskeldi Austfjarda (Ice Fish Farm) have teamed up on the project BIOTOOL. The project aims at developing new genetic methods for monitoring seabed ecosystems during fish farming in sea cages.

BIOTOOL is a large-scale project, which is unique in that it will use a database spanning over 20-years and advanced technology to study and monitor changes in animal communities associated with fish farming operations. The aim is to develop an economically feasible and more accurate method for monitoring changes in benthic fauna during fish farming, which will both increase efficiency and sustainability as well as being an important guidance tool for legislators.

The BIOTOOL project is based on long-term data on the diversity of benthic invertebrates below and near fish farms and how species composition and biodiversity changes with increased organic load associated with fish farming. In the project, the latest genetic technology in environmental research will be applied, where environmental DNA (eDNA) will be used to measure changes in the bottom habitat under and close to sea cages. The project will use a state-of-the-art Environmental Sampling Processor (EPS) to selectively isolate genetic material directly from seawater and quantify the genetic material from five animal species. The project aims at defining five invertebrate species, indicator species, which show variation in number of individuals with changes in organic load from aquaculture. Genetic eDNA markers will be developed in the laboratory before the method is adapted for the ESP, which can be placed in fjords around Iceland for automatic monitoring of organic load.

BIOTOOL is funded by the Icelandic Technology Development Fund.

News

Office space for rent

Matís advertises space for rent at Vínlandsleið 12 and 14 in Grafarholt.

The premises are about 30 square meters and are well suited for food production, where products that do not require refrigeration or freezing are worked with.

For more information Jón Haukur Arnarson.

News

Guide to the use of organic materials for fertilization in agriculture and land reclamation

The Ministry of Food is currently working on a road map for the use of organic materials for fertilizer in agriculture and land reclamation. The roadmap takes into account the government's climate policy and circular economy policy and is intended to show the way to how the set goal of sustainable use of organic materials for fertilizer will be achieved step by step in 2040 or earlier.

The project consists, among other things, in presenting a straightforward and credible plan that includes, among other things: assessment of the current situation, analysis of opportunities and their prioritization, as well as the presentation of scenarios. The Ministry of Food is responsible for the preparation of the roadmap, but has hired the Efla engineering firm to help with the work, in addition to the fact that the Ministry's institutions and stakeholders sit on the steering committee, i.e. Matís, RML, Landgroðslan and MAST.

Fourth of October a working meeting was held in the project where 35 business partners from various industries had the opportunity to get to know the preparation of the road map and bring input to the work. The meeting was held in Matís' house, and good discussions took place there, which will undoubtedly be useful in the preparation of the road map, which is expected to be published before the end of the year.

News

The Minister of Fisheries of Sierra Leone visits Matís

A delegation from Sierra Leone came to the country at the end of September at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to learn about the activities of the main institutions related to the blue economy - Matís, the Norwegian Marine Research Institute, the Norwegian Fisheries Agency and the Maritime School GRÓ.

The committee was chaired by Emma Josephine Kowa, Minister of Fisheries. The committee's visit was a preparation for upcoming cooperation projects between Iceland and Sierra Leone, which are related to an agreement on bilateral cooperation between the countries in development matters. Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world despite access to considerable wealth, both on land and sea. A long and cruel civil war tried the nation, but the current government is determined to develop the state for the better and look at better utilization of the riches of the sea.

The delegation together with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited Matís on September 20 last, where the company's activities were presented and the premises were inspected. In continuation, there were discussions about Matís involvement in various projects that affect the blue economy and that falls under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' goals for bilateral cooperation. The Minister of Fisheries especially thanked Matís for a successful project concerning the smoking of fish, which results in better quality and improved health of the staff. But Matís designed the smoker and assisted in its construction.

Matís designs smoking facilities for fish in Sierra Leone
EN
IS EN