News

Introductory meeting of the master's program in food science

International master's program in food science in collaboration with the University of Iceland and Matís. Presentation and interviews with interested parties will be in room HT-300 at Háskólatorg on Friday 12 April at 14–16.

More about the program here: www.framtidarnam.is

Advertisement for the presentation can be found here: Presentation by UI and Matís.

Everyone welcome!

News

Microorganisms in the ocean around Iceland

In recent months, Matís, in good co-operation with the Marine Research Institute, has been responsible for research into microorganisms in the ocean around Iceland.

This is the first time such a study has been carried out, but the aim is to examine both the number of different microbial groups and the diversity in different sea areas and depths. In the future, the idea is that it will be possible to monitor the progress and changes in microbial composition between years, which can help to assess the impact of climate change on the biological system and its primary production. It should be borne in mind that the health of the microbial community is a condition for the life of the upper layers of the food chain to thrive, and it is therefore economically and environmentally important to acquire further knowledge in this field.

Further information about the project can be obtained from Eyjólfur Reynisson and Viggó Þór Marteinsson at Matís.

News

Safe food?

On Tuesday 16 April, Vörustjórnunarfélag Íslands will hold a conference on traceability and food safety. Sveinn Margeirsson, CEO of Matís and Valur N. Gunnlaugsson from Matís will give presentations, but in addition Sveinn will chair the meeting.

The conference will seek answers to how it is possible to ensure increased security in food production and prevent incidents similar to those that have been discussed in recent weeks. Among other things, ways and solutions to ensure consumer safety regarding information on the origin of raw materials in food will be discussed.

The conference is held in collaboration with GS1 Iceland, Matís and the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences at the University of Iceland.

Three foreign and seven domestic experts with experience from the food supply chain and food security will speak at the conference which will be held at the Grand Hotel Reykjavík, Gullteig, from 8:30 to 12:20 p.m.  

General price ISK ISK 12,900, price for only ISK 3,900 kr.

Reports

Modeling of Temperature Changes, Energy Usage and Quality Changes During Automatic Box Freezing of Mackerel

Published:

01/04/2013

Authors:

Hagalín Ásgrímur Guðmundsson, Björn Margeirsson, Sigurjón Arason

Supported by:

AVS research meeting (F12 014‐12 and R12 040‐12), “Job creation in coastal areas” research meeting.

Contact

Sigurjón Arason

Chief Engineer

sigurjon.arason@matis.is

Modeling of Temperature Changes, Energy Usage and Quality Changes During Automatic Box Freezing of Mackerel

In August 2012 in Tvøroyri in the Faroe Islands, a study was carried out on the production line at Varðin Pelagic, which comes from Skagan hf. in Akranes. The aim was to compare Skagan's box plate freezing method with conventional blow freezing in terms of energy consumption, temperature and product quality. The efficiency of box plate freezers was assessed by time and temperature measurements, simulations of fish temperature through the processing line and quality assessment at different points in the processing.

In August 2012 a trip was made to Tvøroyri, Faraoe Islands to measure and analyze Vardin Pelagic's new production line by Skaginn among others. The goal was to compare the automatic box freezing method to the commonly used blast freezing method in terms of energy usage, temperature and product quality. The efficiency of the automatic box freezer was evaluated by mapping the processing time and ambient temperature effects, simulating the product temperature in the production line and performing quality assessment throughout the production line.

Report closed until April 1, 2017

View report

News

The winners of the Matís fish consumption survey have been drawn

We hereby announce the winner of the Matís fish consumption survey.

As well as thanking everyone who took part in the fish consumption survey, we hereby announce the results of the extract.

Winners are as follows:

Winner no.1: 84a53

Winner No. 2: yjei5

Winner no.3: 35317

You can contact Gunnþórunn Einarsdóttir, gunna@matis.is, to access the gift certificates.

News

Environmental pollution in Iceland - conference March 22, 2013

Another conference on environmental pollution in Iceland will be held on Friday 22 March 2013 in Nauthól, Reykjavík.

Emphasis will be placed on the effects of water utilization, land utilization and pollution in water and sea.

Further information:
Admission is free, but as the number of seats is limited, it is important to register. Please send your name, company and email address to environ@matis.is. The last day to register is March 20, 2013.

The conference proceedings will not be distributed on site, but an electronic version can be obtained for printing here on the site within a few days.

Planning Committee:

Scientific Committee:

  • Hrund Ólöf Andradóttir, University of Iceland
  • Kristín Ólafsdóttir, University of Iceland
  • Gunnar Steinn Jónsson, Environment Agency
  • Hermann Sveinbjörnsson, Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources
  • Anna Kristín Daníelsdóttir, Matís
  • Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir, Matís
  • Hrönn Jörundsdóttir, Matís
  • Sigurður Emil Pálsson, Icelandic Radiation Protection Authority
  • Gerður Stefánsdóttir, Icelandic Meteorological Office
  • Sólveig Rósa Ólafsdóttir, Marine Research Institute

News

Almost half thought that horsemeat was better than beef

Matís conducted an informal survey on University Day as to whether visitors and pedestrians could distinguish between horsemeat and beef.

In short, the participants in 50% were able to guess the correct type of meat. Furthermore, about 40% respondents thought the horsemeat was better meat.

News

Is whitefish from the North Atlantic the best fish?

Is whitefish, such as cod and haddock, from the North Atlantic better food than cheap competitive raw materials from Asia and Africa? Is the environmental impact of fishing for cod and haddock less than that of competing products?

These questions and many others are tried to answer in the Whitefish project led by Icelanders, but other participants are from Norway, Sweden, the UK and the Netherlands, for example. On Wednesday 13 March, Matís ohf. at Vínlandsleið 12 in Reykjavík, an open workshop in the project.

"Based on the experience gained regarding the eco-labeling of marine products, information such as this is most important for wholesalers and retailers of the product. Few consumers make an effort to immerse themselves in these aspects, but they trust that the person who sells them seafood is offering a product that has an acceptable environmental impact. Large retail chains have their own criteria in this regard, and with the WhiteFish project we are taking a step even further than is done with "traditional" eco-labels and calculating the environmental impact for the entire value chain of the products ", says Jónas Rúnar Viðarsson, Matís's specialist manager.

"In recent months, wild fish from the North Atlantic have faced increased competition in markets from cheap farmed fish from Asia and Africa, such as pangasius and tilapia. With the WhiteFish project, we hope to be able to show that our fish have less environmental impact than this competitive product, after all. "

There is a lot at stake, as there is fierce competition in this market, and it is important to work hard to ensure that we deliver to potential buyers that it is more than the price that matters when there is fish on the one hand.

For further information Jónas R. Viðarsson.

News

Matís invites students to visit

Matís invites students to visit on Friday 15 March at 15-17: 30. This is a good place to get acquainted with the food and biotechnology industry, whether you are planning to go on to graduate school or get acquainted with job opportunities after graduation.

Further information can be found at Steinar B. Aðalbjörnsson Matís marketing manager.

News

Horse meat! Beef! Do Icelanders know the difference?

University Day 2013 will take place tomorrow. There will be a lot of fun at the University of Iceland, where students, teachers and Matís staff will offer the Meat Challenge 2013 at the booth of the Faculty of Food and Nutrition at Háskólatorg,

The meat challenge takes place between 13 and 14:30. The purpose of the challenge is to allow Icelanders to assess whether they find a difference between horsemeat on the one hand and beef on the other, but also to arouse interest in the projects that food scientists around the world are working on.

There are great opportunities in Icelandic food production and Icelanders are realizing that. It is possible to build up lasting value in the food and biotechnology industry, whether this is intended with exports in mind or as a supplement to what Iceland has to offer all year round, for example in travel-related food production.

For further information Steinar B. Aðalbjörnsson, marketing director of Matís.

More about food science: www.framtidarnam.is

More about University Day 2013: www.haskoladagurinn.is/

EN