Category: News

Recently, an article was published on the Fishupdate website by employees of Matís and the University of Iceland. It is suggested that a positive experience of sensory factors due to fish consumption, such as smell and taste, be maintained for children from an early age, as this can be crucial for fish consumption later in life.

Fish is a healthy food, and the WHO recommends that ideally it should be on the menu once or twice a week. The high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, above all in sea fish with a high fat content, are especially important for health. Fish are also important as a source of vitamin D and trace elements such as iodine and selenium. Whoever eats sea fish regularly lessens their risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Fish supports a balanced weight-loss program and can lessen oxidative stress. 

Unfortunately, children and young adults seldom eat fish. Since the dietary habits of earlier years are often carried into adulthood, they can have a long-term negative effect on one's health. 

An Icelandic study by University of Iceland in cooperation with the Food and Biotech research institute and European Sensory Network member, Matís, is seeking the relevant factors that are responsible for this aversion to fish. The researchers questioned 1498 Icelanders between the ages of 17 and 26 as to how often they consumed fish. The researchers also wanted to know if the participants had eaten fish as children, if they believed that fish smelled and tasted good or bad, if healthy food was important, what they thought of fish as nourishment, whether parental pressure influenced the participants' fish consumption , and whether they were able to prepare and cook fish themselves. 

Analyzes of the results showed that all of the above-mentioned factors in the willingness to eat fish were important, either directly or indirectly. Young people are more prone to eat fish:

• if they had learned to cook and can prepare fish recipes
• if they had a positive attitude towards eating fish
• if they were interested in eating healthy
• if they liked the way fish tastes and smells
• if their parents had fish regularly on the family's menu

Eating fish during childhood has an indirect influence on the liking of fish later in life. Whoever has eaten fish often as a child has a greater probability of enjoying eating it, consequently developing a positive attitude towards the food, and will eat fish on a regular basis on into early adulthood. 

Sensory beliefs were shown to be the strongest predictor of attitudes towards fish consumption, followed by social pressure from the parents. An interest in a healthy diet and confidence in one's own cooking had a comparatively weak influence.

Researcher Kolbrun Sveinsdottir from Matis concluded: “It is important to set up programs in kindergartens and schools aimed at establishing a positive sensory experience as early as possible in regards to eating fish. Parents must be encouraged to serve their children fish on a regular basis and also involve them in the preparation and cooking. The industry should take more consideration on presenting fish products that can be more easily prepared and cooked. ”

The scientists also recommend that the positive health aspects of fish consumption be given a prominent place in the marketing of seafood products.

Source:
A model of fish consumption among young consumers Thorsdottir F, Sveinsdottir K, Jonsson FH, Einarsdottir G, Thorsdottir I, Martinsdottir E. Journal of Consumer Marketing, Volume 29, Issue 1, 2012, Pages 4–12
DOI: http://www.esn-network.com/typo3conf/ext/dh_linklayout/res/link_ext.gif 10.1108/07363761211193000

Further information can be obtained from Kolbrúna Sveinsdóttir at Matís and on the Fishupdate website, www.fishupdate.com.

The company 3X Technology in Ísafjörður is currently working on a research project on bleeding of line fish in small boats and the project is carried out in collaboration with Matís and the shipowners.

Matís strives to assist the food industry in the country in increasing value, improving utilization and better public health, with the above project working to increase value through better catch management that opens the way for better utilization. As the food industry plays an important role around the country, Matís has operations in many parts of the country, including Ísafjörður. Matís' office in Ísafjörður has an important role to play in bridging the gap between the business community and the scientific community. In Ísafjörður, a collaboration between 3X, small boat companies and Matís is currently underway, and Matís 'station manager in Ísafjörður enjoys the support of other experts and Matís' specialized employees in solving the project.

The above project is an example of how Matís' research, which in this case revolves around work for the benefit of 3X and in collaboration with small boat companies, includes benefits for all Icelanders. It is with the research that can be prepared for the development that maintains the quality of the catch. The handling of raw materials is very important for the possibilities for the production of various products.

"The operation of liner boats is especially important for coastal settlements in the Westfjords and has been an invaluable lever for rural development there throughout history," says Shiran Þórisson, CEO of the Westfjords Business Development Association. The company 3X Technology in Ísafjörður is currently working on a research project on bleeding of line fish in small boats, and recently received a grant from the Westfjords Growth Agreement, which is a joint project of the Ministry of Industry and Atvest. 3X Technology is working on the project in collaboration with Matís and the shipowners, who have developed new equipment for bleeding on board liner boats, and the equipment is called "Rotex". Shiran says that in recent times it has been pointed out that the virus of these boats is much more environmentally friendly than that of other fishing groups.

"Despite the many advantages of small boating, it also has its disadvantages. "There are especially known problems with maintaining the quality of the raw material after it comes on board, but since work space on board these boats is scarce, there has been a lack of proper handling of the catch on board," says Shiran, and says that this is especially true in terms of bleeding, but it has proved difficult to bring adequate equipment on board small boats. "Because of these quality problems, the image of small-scale fishing is not as positive as it would otherwise be, but in reality it is hardly possible to think of a fresher raw material than hooked fish," says Shiran.

Although research suggests that proper bleeding results in greater value for cod catches, this has not been conclusively demonstrated. Therefore, it was considered important to demonstrate with research that new equipment is suitable for use on board smaller liners and delivers better catch quality.
"The project, which is funded by the Westfjords Growth Agreement and the AVS Fund, will answer the question of whether it is better to let small boats catch bleeding in the" Rotex "equipment that 3X has designed based on the traditional method of small boats, or to let them bleed into ice scrapers. in fish baskets. We think it is better with the "Rotex" equipment than to do it with traditional methods. The task is to answer that, "says Shiran.

There is a lot at stake for 3X Techology, which estimates that production of this equipment can generate significant revenue in the future. Five hundred small boats had a catch limit or hook catch limit on 1 September 2011 and it was not known if any of them had bleeding equipment on board to ensure good bleeding of cod and haddock. If the functionality of the equipment can be demonstrated, it can be expected that a significant number of boats will invest in such equipment. "The production of Rotex equipment could generate significant revenue for 3X Technology, although the greatest benefit is the increased value creation of smaller liner vessels," says Shiran.

For further information Gunnar Þórðarson, station manager in Ísafjörður.

_{The above article is partly published first on Bæjarinn besta's website in Ísafjörður (www.bb.is, gudmundur@bb.is).}

The start-up company Marinox now produces lotions after years of research and development on substances that can be found in Icelandic seaweed and contain a lot of life and antioxidant activity.

UNA skincare are sophisticated Icelandic skin creams that have just arrived on the market. The Icelandic innovation company Marinox, which is partly owned by Matís, produces these creams after years of research and development. These are both rejuvenating day creams and constructive night creams that contain these unique bioactive ingredients.

Seaweed is a very underutilized resource in Iceland, but it contains a myriad of healthy biomaterials that can be used in a variety of products. The company Marinox has developed a natural method for isolating and producing active ingredients from this unique Icelandic resource and thereby ensuring their maximum effectiveness. Studies show a very positive effect of natural substances from seaweed on the skin. The bioactive algae in the UNA skincare creams contain a lot of very powerful natural antioxidants, bioactive polysaccharides, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. These substances include the fight against free radicals and skin aging, reduce inflammation and redness, as well as improve the elasticity of the skin and provide it with moisture.

The interplay of the sea and science thus helps to preserve the natural beauty of the skin!

UNA creams also contain other powerful active ingredients that prevent and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, as well as rejuvenate and rebuild the skin. The creams, which contain high levels of natural and organic ingredients, are free of pigments, fragrances and parabens. Extensive consumer testing has taken place where over 90 women tested the creams. These tests demonstrate the excellent performance of creams. The majority of those who took part in a long-term test on cosmetics saw a significant positive difference in their skin and a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. Over 90% of the participants would without hesitation recommend the cream to others. UNA skincare creams are on sale at 32 outlets across the country. More information about these unique creams can be found at www.unaskincare.com.

Marinox is an Icelandic innovation company located at Vínlandsleið 14, 113 Reykjavík. The research and development work of the bioactive substances and creams has taken place in close collaboration with Matís in Reykjavík and Sauðárkrókur.

Further information is provided by dr. Hörður G. Kristinsson, Managing Director of Marinox (hordur@unaskincare.com or 858-5063).

Recently, several students in resource science, with an emphasis on biotechnology, defended their dissertations at the University of Akureyri, but biotechnology is precisely one of the disciplines that could create significant income for the national economy in the future.

What these students have in common is that they have all enjoyed the guidance of Matís' employees. The students are:

• Guðný Helga Kristjánsdóttir. The project "Measurements of astaxanthin and nutrients from wastewater chitosan processing". Worked in collaboration with Primex (closed project) - supervisor was Rannveig Björnsdóttir at Matís.
• Hanna Rún Jóhannesdóttir. The project "The relationship between the purity of cattle on the foot and the microbial flora on the surface of the carcasses". Worked in collaboration with Norðlenski (closed project) - supervisor was Rannveig Björnsdóttir at Matís.
• Guðrún Kristín Eiríksdóttir: The project "The effect of temperature on the expression of proteins in charr hearts. Analyzed by protein quantity analysis ". Worked in collaboration with Hólar University (open project) - supervisor was Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir at Matís.

For more information Hólmfríður and Rannveig at Matís.

The next fisheries conference will be held at the Grand Hotel, from the 8th to the 9th of September. November. This is the third conference of Sjávarútvegsráðstefnan ehf. and it has been named Looking to the Future.

Seminars
Seminars have been given the following working titles:
- Icelandic fisheries
- Should Icelanders have a joint marketing job?
- Future opportunities in aquaculture
- All raw materials on land?
- Is there a future in full processing in Iceland?
- World supply of competing types of Icelanders
- World supply of competitive species in pelagic fish
- Fisheries policy of Iceland and the EU
 
The final title of the seminar will no doubt change, without any change being made to the topic. We aim to have the agenda of the Fisheries Conference 2012 posted on its website in June.Conference Council

The board of the association is a conference council and decides on the content of the conference and is responsible for selecting the lecturer. The following currently sit on the board of the Fisheries Conference:
Kristján Hjaltason, chairman
Anna Kristín Daníelsdóttir
Finnbogi Alfreðsson
Hjörtur Gíslason
Lúðvík Börkur Jónsson
Inga Jóna Friðgeirsdóttir

On Thursday 28 June, Hugrún Lísa Heimisdóttir will defend her master's thesis in the field of biotechnology at the University of Akureyri's resources department. The defense starts at 10:00 and will be in room R312 in Borgir. Two of Matís' employees were Hugrún's supervisors in the study.

The title of Hugrún Lísa's dissertation is "Effects of fish protein hydrolyzate-enhanced live prey on cod (Gadus morhua L.) larval development: Protein expression and stimulation of selected innate immune parameters"

In the dissertation, Hugrún Lísa discusses the effects of food animals that were enriched with fish peptides on the growth and development of cod larvae. In her research, Hugrún Lísa used two types of methods. First, it applied immunostaining to evaluate the effect of peptide-enhanced food animals on key factors in the cod larvae's non-specific immune response. Second, Hugrún Lísa applied a two-dimensional electron microscopy protein quantum assay and a two-mass protein assay to study the effect of peptide-enhanced food on protein expression in the larval gastrointestinal tract, but for studies on the response of cod larvae to changes in feed composition. The immunostaining also indicated that the enrichment of food animals with fish peptides promotes more robust tissue layers and thus has a positive effect on the development of cod larvae.

Hugrún Lísa graduated with a bachelor's degree (B.Sc.) in biotechnology from the University of Akureyri's resources department in the spring of 2010. She has been working on her research and dissertation for the past two years and has received a grant from the University of Akureyri's Research Fund, Matís ohf. and Iceprotein Ltd.

Hugrún Lísa's supervisors are dr. Oddur Vilhelmsson, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Natural Resources at the University of Akureyri, dr. Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir, specialist at Matís ohf., And Jónína Jóhannsdóttir, M.Sc., specialist at Matís ohf. The opponent is dr. Bjarnheiður K. Guðmundsdóttir, assistant professor at the University of Iceland School of Medicine and specialist at the University of Iceland Laboratory of Pathology at Keldur.

For further information Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir at Matís.

_{The above news first appeared on the website of the University of Akureyri, www.unak.is.}

The twentieth national tournament will take place in Reykjavík this time. Matís presents its activities at the tournament, but the company works with horse and dog owners, for example with parental analyzes of dogs and horses through genetic research.

Matís welcomes guests and pedestrians to the company's booth during the national tournament.

About Matís' parent diagnoses
The projects include genetic analysis of useful and wild strains and data processing, as well as sequencing of the genetic material of organisms and the search for new genetic boundaries and the development of genetic kits.

DNA analysis is used, among other things, in aquaculture to select fish for breeding. This can speed up breeding and increase the conservation of genetic variation. In wild strains, genetic analysis is used to study strains and strain units. These include salmon, cod, lobster, herring, sandeel, ling, etc. species. Genetic analysis can be used in traceability research and species analysis, whether it is eggs, juveniles, fillets from a counter or canned food.

Genetic analysis has been used in human genetics in recent decades, but this technology is now increasingly used in zoology and is especially important in research on wild marine stocks. It is also an important goal to develop phenotypic genetic markers, but good genetic markers are the basis for successful research of this kind.

Matís is the only company in Iceland that has systematically built up genetic analysis of animals.

More here.

About the national tournament (of www.landsmot.is)

The history of the Landsmót dates back to 1950 when the first Landsmót was held at Þingvellir. 133 horses, breeding horses, gæðingar and racing horses were shown there. At that time, there was only competition in one category of gæðingar, which was a category of universal gæðingar, as well as racing and breeding shows.

After that, Landsmót was held every four years, until at the annual meeting of Landssamband Hestamannafélagi 1995 it was agreed to hold Landsmót every two years. The first tournament held according to those rules, i.e. Every two years, Landsmót was held in Reykjavík in 2000.

The tournaments have grown enormously in scope, especially in terms of the competition part and the number of horses. It is interesting, however, that at the first Landsmót for horsemen at Þingvellir in 1950, about 10,000 guests attended the tournament. A attendance record was set at Gaddstaðaflatur in 2008, where nearly 14,000 guests, riders, employees and volunteers gathered.  

Landsmót hestamanna has been the largest sporting event in the country since the beginning, as Landssamband hestamannafélagi is the third largest special association within ÍSÍ, with over 11,000 members.

An interesting production takes place on the balcony of Matís' headquarters. There are plant boxes in which to grow, there are various delicious things. Most recently, the spinach was harvested and the chives will be used soon.

Employees who were at lunch on the day the harvest was cooked got the freshest vegetables in question, as the spinach ends up being tasty and full of vitamins and minerals.

Here you can see some pictures from the boxes and from the canteen and it is safe to say that they speak for themselves.

Fish is one of the most sensitive foods and therefore great emphasis is placed on preserving its freshness and avoiding damage. The importance of carefully cooling fish immediately after they are caught is undisputed.

The food legislation contains various provisions on the cooling of fish and other foods. It clearly stipulates that an unbroken cooling chain should be kept from fishing, to and during food processing, and that it should be cooled as soon as possible.

Surveys in Iceland have shown that cooling of landed demersal fish catches is insufficient in many cases and many examples of fish being landed poorly frozen or even unfrozen. This is especially true of catches from fishing trips lasting less than 24 hours. It is also too common for fish stored outdoors not to be protected from the sun and external pollution, as good production methods stipulate.

Therefore, the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture has issued a regulation to remove any doubts about what rules apply in this regard. The Regulation does not enter into force until 1 September 2012 in order to give those parties who have not complied with its provisions scope to set up the necessary equipment in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation.

Regulation on (4th) amendment to Regulation no. 104/2010 on the entry into force of Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EC) no. 853/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs of animal origin, as amended.

_{The news first appeared on the website of the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, www.sjavarutvegsraduneyti.is.}

Today, 18 June, an introductory meeting will be held on Matís' operations and the company's new office. The meeting takes place in the community center in Bíldudalur and starts at 17.

Experts from Matís in Reykjavík, Snæfellsnes and the southern Westfjords will be on site to present the activities and the possibilities involved in opening Matís' offices in the southern Westfjords and in Snæfellsnes.

All who are interested are invited to the meeting to get to know Matís 'activities and what possibilities are available for Matís' research and assistance in developing the economy in the area. Matís is a knowledge and research company that works on development and innovation in the food industry, biotechnology and food safety. Matís provides advice and services to companies in the fisheries and agriculture sectors, as well as the Icelandic state. For example, Matís is involved in the development of new products and processes for companies and has an important role to play in terms of food quality and safety.

Matís will work with companies, local authorities and individuals in the area who will be able to use Matís' expertise to build their own operations. Matís' operations in Breiðafjörður are based on a solid and strong collaboration with the locals, as they have taken the initiative in the development that Matís is currently embarking on.

There are great opportunities for increased value creation in the area. The fishing industry is a key industry in constant development, but in addition there are opportunities for the development of aquaculture and the utilization of other raw materials in the area. In the south of the Westfjords, there is a great growth in aquaculture and a strong development in that field. Matís 'operations will support the necessary research and development in connection with aquaculture, but it is expected that services for aquaculture-related activities will be one of the main challenges for Matís' employees in the area. As the largest cost item of aquaculture lies in feed and feeding, the development of feed costs is not least considered.

Strengthening food production will play a key role in increased value creation in the southern Westfjords and by Breiðafjörður. Individuals and companies interested in the production of food from raw materials from the area are especially invited to the meeting to get to know Matís' work and the opportunities it has to offer for further product development and production. Product processing creates valuable products and increased income opportunities, as well as a more diverse economy and a wider range of products. The southern Westfjords have great potential for more processing from the raw materials produced here for sea and land, and without a doubt there are many ideas among the residents of the area that are well worth implementing.

Matís staff encourages all interested parties to come and get to know the operations, meet the staff and discuss issues. We look forward to tackling upcoming projects with the local communities, businesses and all locals and welcome you to the meeting.

Matís, Vínlandsleið 12, Reykjavík, 422-5000, matis@matis.is and Matís staff in the south of the Westfjords.

For further information:
Lilja Magnúsdóttir, 858-5085, liljam@matis.is
Hólmgeir Reynisson, 867-4553, holmgeir@matis.is