Category: News

Issue no. 24/2011 in Icelandic Agricultural Sciences (IAS) and there are many interesting scientific articles on Icelandic agriculture and land use. Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir at Matís is a member of the IAS editorial board, but in addition, this edition contains articles by several Matís employees.

The scientific journal Icelandic Agricultural Science, or IAS, is an international journal on life sciences related to agriculture and land use.

IAS has now got a new website www.ias.is. On this page you can access all the scientific articles that have appeared in the publication since the beginning in 1988 in electronic form.

IAS is the only international scientific journal published in Iceland on research related to forestry, fisheries, land reclamation, agriculture and other land use.

In his time, the editorial board changed IAS the name of the publication into English and further increased the requirements for the quality of scientific articles. All articles published in the publication are in English and are peer-reviewed by at least one foreign expert (and one domestic), as well as an editor. In connection with this change, several directors of the institutions responsible for publishing the publication, such as the director of forestry, have agreed to evaluate the publication in their institutional agreements as "Peer-reviewed international scholarly journal".

There will be many interesting things at an introductory meeting about the Icelandic Ocean Cluster which will take place on Thursday 17 November at 15-16: 30 (more here). There will be a discussion on value creation in biotechnology, but Hörður G. Kristinsson, Matís 'research director and Matís' director of biotechnology and biochemistry, will be on the panel.

The meeting will present opportunities that include hundreds of small and large companies in the ocean cluster and how it is possible to increase collaboration and make the most of the opportunities.

Agenda

• Birna Einarsdóttir, CEO of Íslandsbanki and Sigsteinn Grétarsson, Deputy CEO of Marels, open the meeting.
• Þór Sigfússon from the Icelandic Ocean Cluster presents the scope and goals of the cluster.
• Sveinn Kjartansson, chef, shows how the Icelandic sea cluster appears in Icelandic cod.
• Guðmundur Kristjánsson, CEO of Brims, discusses the Icelandic ocean cluster from the point of view of a shipowner and how the entire cluster can be strengthened.
• Árni Oddur Þórðarson, Chairman of the Board of Marels, delivers an address and encouragement.

Nine individuals will also be introduced who are part of the ocean cluster in Iceland and work on such diverse projects as scuba diving on the seabed, exports of grated haddock, international financial services in the fisheries sector, redness as a medical product, biotechnology that can create great value, technology that improves ship equipment and much more.

Following the meeting, TM will host a corporate conference in the lobby of Marels' headquarters.

The ocean cluster

More information at www.sjavarklasinn.is/

In the introduction and in an episode about Hreindýrafélagið in Kastljós on 14 November. sl. stated that the Chief Veterinary Officer and Matís had objected to reindeer being transported to the Westfjords. It can surely be considered here that Matvælastofnun (MAST) and Matís ohf are being confused.

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 and individuals 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 large and small companies and has an important role to play in terms of food quality and safety. Matís is not subject to general supervision, whether it is food or animals. Matís therefore does not have an opinion on whether it is suitable or desirable to transport reindeer in the Westfjords.

If reindeer are transported to the Westfjords and hunted there, Matís can help hunters and others in the local community to create valuable products from the animals. For example, Matís can assist in establishing suitable food processing for reindeer meat processing. Many well-known products are made from such ingredients, fresh reindeer meat is a festive food that everyone knows, raw sausages made from reindeer meat are made in Norway and chowder and pâté are made from the meat or liver of the animals.

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

Elementary school children solve climate problems in a LEGO design competition. Up to 100 kids aged 10-15 have registered to play in the LEGO design competition for primary school children, First Lego League, which will be held tomorrow, Saturday 12 November, at Háskólatorg.

The aim of the competition is to arouse primary school students' interest in science and technology as well as to build their self-confidence, leadership skills and life skills. Each year, the competition is chosen a specific theme that is high on the agenda in the world. This year the theme will be food security. Ólafur Ögmundarson is Matís' representative on the jury and does well as he knows the value and transport chain of food very well.

It can be said that the competition consists of five different projects. In the first task, the contestants build a robot from a computer-controlled LEGO-i that is programmed to solve a specific puzzle. Second, competitors must conduct a scientific study of a particular subject. This time the project is about food factor and the participants have to move a certain product from one place to another in the most efficient way. Thirdly, the contestants keep a detailed diary of preparations for the competition and fourthly, they are to present the original entertainment. Fifth, the teams have to explain how they programmed their robot, which tests the participants' knowledge of their own equipment.

Nine teams from the same number of schools across the country have registered for the game and there are between 6-10 people in each team along with one adult team manager. All teams were sent a track and competition shirt eight weeks before the competition to prepare.

The program of the competition starts at 9 on Saturday morning and it is expected that the winners will be crowned at 15. The winning team has the opportunity to compete in the European First Lego League. In addition to prizes for winning the competition, prizes are awarded for the best solution in robot design and programming, the best research project, the best diary, the best entertainment and the best team. All participants receive a FLL medal in recognition.

The competition has taken place in this country for the past 6 years and has always attracted a lot of attention. The proportion of people with a vocational and technical education is sometimes used as a measure when examining how well prepared nations are for the future. If the number of people with such an education in Icelandic society is to increase, it is important to increase interest in technology and science among the country's youth. The LEGO design competition is an innovative way to do this.

The School of Engineering and Natural Sciences at the University of Iceland manages the competition and its sponsors are Nýherji, the Icelandic Society of Engineers, the Confederation of Icelandic Industries and Matís.

Everyone is welcome to watch the competition at Háskólatorg.

Further information about the competition is provided by Ingi Rafn Ólafsson, Marketing and Promotion Director of the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, ingirafn@hi.is and GSM: 772-1400.

_{News taken from the website of the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences at the University of Iceland.}

Recently, the Tanzanian government and Matís signed a co-operation agreement on a project worth around ISK 40 million related to research on fish, fish processing and an assessment of the social status of fishing communities on Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.

This is a collaborative project between Matís, VJI consultancy, Ráðgarður ship consultancy and GOCH engineering company in Tanzania. The project is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.

For further information Oddur Már Gunnarsson at Matís.

Matís is a regular participant in development cooperation projects around the world. This co-operation contributes, for example, to the development of knowledge in the food industry in developing countries through Matís' co-operation with the Icelandic Development Cooperation Agency, the United Nations University and others working on development co-operation. For example, Matís has been to Kenya and held courses for fisheries inspectors under the auspices of the United Nations University School of Fisheries and in Mozambique, where Matís staff have carried out audits of a laboratory in Maputo and assisted and guided the laboratory's quality team in preparing for accreditation. Mozambique in the development of official quality control in the fisheries sector. Working on the quality issues of the laboratories in Maputo, Beira and Quelimane is part of that collaboration.

Knowledge and experience of Matís' quality system is used to finalize procedures and documents belonging to quality systems, and it is then decided what steps are necessary to achieve the ultimate goal, which is to apply for accreditation.

At the end of 2011, the exemption votes that Icelanders have from the regulation in food legislation in the European Economic Area (EEA) expire. In recent months, certain concepts about food have been discussed and it is important that these terms are used correctly to prevent misunderstandings.

These terms are on the one hand food safety and on the other hand food safety.

• Food Safety (Food safety) discusses how safe foods are for consumption and whether they cause harm to the health of consumers
• Food security (Food security) deals with access to food and the supply of healthy and safe food

Further information on the above concepts and on Matís 'role in the implementation of new EEA food legislation in Iceland is provided by Sveinn Margeirsson, Matís' CEO, sveinnm@matis.is.

Í Bændablaðið 27 October sl. (p. 14) is a press release on the implementation of EEA food legislation in Iceland.

The main objective of the project Simulation of cooling processes - thermodynamic simulation of processing and transport processes, which began in June 2008, was to improve procedures and equipment for processing and transport of marine products.

Process analysis, experiments and computerized thermal and hydrological models were used to achieve the set goals. The consequences of improved temperature control in processing and transport processes are increased quality, stability and safety, which at the same time increase the value of the product. Partners in the project were Matís, the University of Iceland, Promens Tempra, Eimskip Ísland, Samherji, Brim (ÚA), Festi and Eskja.

Examples of the project's products are heat transfer models of fresh fish products in a foam box, which make it possible to predict fish temperatures based on environmental temperature history. Heat transfer models were used to redesign the Promens Tempra 3, 5 and 7 kg foam boxes with the minimum target fish temperature minimization under the target heat load.

Experiments confirmed the superiority of the new boxes over traditional box types, both in terms of temperature control and product quality under heat load. The new round foam boxes have replaced older models of Promens Tempra foam boxes (see Figure 1) and have thus increased the competitiveness of Icelandic fresh fish products, especially those transported by air.

The results of another experiment show that the shelf life of fresh fish fillets in corner boxes of whole pallets in the air transport chain can be about 1 - 1.5 days shorter than fillets in boxes in the middle of the pallet stack. Heat distribution in different cooling chains was mapped and special emphasis was placed on pre-cooling fillets for packing and heat distribution in different types of cooling containers with different loading patterns. The results of the project have not only benefited air transport chains but have also further contributed to increased opportunities for the safe transport of fresh fish products by ship.

Matarsmiðja Matís á Flúður was discussed in a funny way in the program Iceland today on Stöð 2 a while ago. Sigrún Ósk Kristjánsdóttir believed that the mushrooms that are being tested for drying there are better than the health in them would indicate; they would actually taste more than just "healthy good"!

The news can be found here.

The stock size of Atlantic salmon has decreased significantly in many places within the species' distribution area. There are many indications that the causes can be traced to increased declines in salmon stocks.

In 2008, a multinational research project, Salsea Merge, was launched, with the main goal of finding an answer to the question of why salmon catches at sea have increased. A database on the genetic composition of salmon in hundreds of salmon stocks was developed. Through genetic analysis and comparison with the database, it is now possible to trace salmon that are caught in the sea to their homelands, but such knowledge is the key to examining how the grazing areas in the Atlantic are handled by salmon stocks.

Little has been known about salmon routes in Icelandic waters. Salmon fishing has been banned since 1932 and salmon is not allowed to be landed, despite the fact that salmon are known to be used as by-catch in various fishing gear. Attempts were made to obtain samples from fishing vessels from 2007 and in exploratory fishing, and 32 samples were collected. In 2010, a new research campaign was launched in collaboration with the Directorate of Fisheries in connection with fishing for mackerel in Icelandic waters, and the campaign has now yielded an additional 175 samples.

The aim of the project was to investigate the age composition, growth and origin of salmon caught in the waters off Iceland. Samples have been analyzed from 2007 to 2010, but their 86% was collected from the mackerel fishery in 2010. Most salmon were found in their second year at sea (78%), but the proportion of salmon that had stayed two years or longer turned out to be 17.5%. Several juvenile salmon were also caught in the first year at sea (4.4%). The freshwater age ranged from 1 to 6 years, and salmon with a two-year freshwater stay were the most common (46.2%), while a three-year freshwater stay was also common (25.3%). The average age of freshwater salmon was 2.4 years.

Most of the salmon were caught within the Icelandic fishing jurisdiction. Most of the samples were caught in the east of the country, but there were also samples of salmon caught in the south and west of the country. Most juvenile salmon were caught west of Snæfellsnes. The origin of salmon was analyzed in 150 samples. Of this number, only 8 samples (5%) were of Icelandic origin. The results indicate that important routes and grazing areas for salmon can be found within the Icelandic fishing jurisdiction.

There are many indications that salmon, especially from the southern part of the distribution area from France to the southern part of Norway with the British Isles, use the sea areas around Iceland as grazing areas during part of their life cycle and could be on their way to known salmon grazing areas in East and West Greenland. of Iceland. Salmon of Icelandic origin proved to be an insignificant part of the samples and it was also a short age - and growth data. Salmon in the samples thus showed much faster growth at the juvenile stage than is the case with Icelandic salmon stocks, as Icelandic salmon stay for the most part 3 -5 years in freshwater before going to sea.

The parties in this project are: Veiðimálastofnun, www.veidimal.is, Directorate of Fisheries, www.fiskistofa.is and Matís.
Project sponsor: The Fisheries Project Fund.

For further information, please contact Kristinn Ólafsson at Matís, kristinn.olafsson@matis.is.

From 28.-30. The WEFTA 2011 conference was held in Gothenburg in September. Researchers from Matís presented the results of their research.

West European Fish Technologists Association or WEFTA (www.wefta.org) conferences are a forum where many of Europe's leading scientists in the field of marine research and utilization come together and compare their books. This conference was the 41st in a row.

Five scientists from Matís spoke at the conference

• Margrét Geirsdóttir, Patricia Y. Hamaguchi, Óli Þór Hilmarsson, Irek Klonowzki and Hörður G. Kristinsson. Surimi seafood from byproducts containing omega-3 fatty acids.
• Kolbrún Sveinsdóttir, Rósa Jónsdóttir, Margrét Geirsdóttir and Emilía Martinsdóttir. Innovative consumer-oriented product development of enriched seafood.
• Minh Van Nguyen, Kristín Anna Þórarinsdóttir, Guðjón Þorkelsson, Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir, Sigurjón Arason and Arnljótur Bjarki Bergsson. Effects of the anti-caking agent potassium ferrocyanide (K₄[Fe (CN)₆]) on lipid oxidation of salted cod (Gadus morhua) during salting, storage and rehydration.
• Patricia Y. Hamaguchi, Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir, Rósa Jónsdóttir and Hörður G. Kristinsson. Comparison of in vitro chemical and cellular based antioxidant assays on bioactive marine peptides.
• Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir, Jón Óskar Jónsson, Patricia Y. Hamaguchi, Halldór Benediktsson, Hörður G. Kristinsson and Rósa Jónsdóttir. Functional ingredients in brown seaweed, Fucus vesiculosus.

In addition, one poster from Matís was presented

• Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir, Hugrún Lísa Heimisdóttir, Jónína Jóhannsdóttir, Patricia Y. Hamaguchi, Arnljótur Bjarki Bergsson, Hörður G. Kristinsson and Steinar Svavarsson. Analysis of the bioactivity of fish protein hydrolysates used as feed enrichment for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae.

Matís' employee was a co-author in one presentation

• Tómas Hafliðason, Guðrún Ólafsdóttir, Björn Margeirsson and Sigurður Bogason. Simple shelf life prediction models for wireless sensor networks in fish supply chains.