Category: News

At Matís ohf. has developed a fast and reliable method for analyzing the species of Icelandic marine resources, but the method is based on genetic analysis.

A survey in the United States revealed that about 25% of fish products sold in markets or restaurants are not sold under the right name, and of course cheap fish is being sold as a more expensive species. If this proportion is general, then consumers of seafood are being cheated by large sums.

This project, which was funded by the AVS Fund, results in another equally important benefit, which is to identify various marine organisms that are difficult to identify species by appearance alone. Such methods are very time consuming and require trained taxonomists. The genetic analysis method is fast and gives a reliable result, but it is possible to detect eggs, larvae, juveniles and juveniles of fish that can be difficult to identify, for example if samples are not whole or detect immature life forms.

There is also great interest in being able to analyze the composition of gastric contents from commercial stocks, but such observations are important in assessing the ecological relationship between commercial stocks. Thus, these genetic studies can shed light on the extent to which various commercial fish could eat eggs, larvae and juveniles of their own and other commercial stocks.

The genetic analysis method developed is based on the sequencing of three species differentiating genes (marker genes). The aim was to build a database for 26 marine resources. Genetic analysis was performed on the mitochondrial genes cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), cytochrome b (Cytb) and 16S RNA (16S) from several samples from the 26 species defined as Iceland's commercial stocks. The method was tested on unknown samples obtained from fish shops, from the Marine Research Institute's sample collection and finally juveniles that were 2-8 cm long were identified. In all cases, the species could be genotyped using the DNA genetic method, while the appearance of the juveniles was quite difficult.

This new research tool is useful for those who conduct research on marine organisms, in addition to which it can be very useful in solving ever-increasing doubts in the markets.

Project manager's report: The development of a genetic analysis method for species determination remains in Iceland's commercial stocks.

AVS reference number: R 012-07

On Wednesday 24 June, a doctoral defense will take place at the Faculty of Science at the University of Iceland. Chemist Tom Brenner is defending his doctoral dissertation "Aggregation behavior of cod muscle proteins".

Opponents are dr. E. Allen Foegeding, professor at North Carolina State University and dr. Erik van der Linden, Professor at Wageningen University. The supervisor of the project was dr. Ragnar Jóhannsson, specialist at Matís together with Taco Nicolai from CNRS, Université Du Maine in France. The supervisor was dr. Ágúst Kvaran Professor at the University of Iceland.

Dr. Guðmundur G. Haraldsson, President of the Faculty of Science, will preside over the ceremony, which will take place in the Celebration Hall in the Main Building and will begin at 10:00.

Summary of study
The clustering of muscle proteins from cod was studied. The light distribution and viscoelastic measurements were mainly used in the studies. In the first part of the study, the major muscle protein, myosin, was isolated and studied. The second part of the study deals with the behavior of muscle protein solutions obtained by dissolving at pH ~ 11. Such a solution is applied on an industrial scale in this country to obtain muscle proteins from cod cuts as well as other fish cuts. All research was carried out at Matís ohf. and was intended to strengthen the theoretical basis for the aforementioned processing processes that have been developed at Matís.

The main results of the study are that the reversible clustering of muscle proteins as well as the isolated myosin is very similar to that of gelatin. Processing processes for the protein solutions therefore need to take into account this behavior of the proteins.

The fracture dimension structure of myosin clusters was then demonstrated. This will be the first time that this building, known for globular protein gels and clusters, has been confirmed for muscle protein. The viscoelastic properties of gels derived from protein solutions were investigated in a haze. It was found that broken gels regenerated under a cutting voltage if it is lower than a cutting voltage that can be defined as the actual breaking voltage. The formation of protein-deficient regions in the gels was subsequently demonstrated, but this mesoscopic phase chromatography is considered to be the first step in macroscopic phase chromatography.

The project was carried out in collaboration with the Université Du Maine in France and Matís ohf. The supervisor of the project was dr. Ragnar Jóhannsson, division manager at Matís ohf., Together with Taco Nicolai from CNRS, Université Du Maine in France.

Along with them sits on the doctoral committee of dr. Ágúst Kvaran, professor at the University of Iceland.About the doctoral dissertation

Tom Brenner was born in 1982. He completed his B.Sc. degree in chemistry from the University of Iceland in 2004. Today he works for Matís ohf.

Further information
Tom Brenner, 4225131, email: tom.brenner@matis.is
Ragnar Jóhannsson, 4225106, e-mail: ragnar.johannsson@matis.is

The annual conference of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) was held in the first week of June. Matís' research was presented there and the company had no more or less than 15 posters

Matís had 15 posters / presentations at the IFT conference held in Anaheim, California. The IFT Conference is the largest food science conference held in the world and is attended by thousands of people annually. Matís presented his research on bioactive peptides and polyphenols from seafood, the processing properties of fish peptides and also research work related to the taste quality of salted fish. The research attracted a great deal of attention and there were many inquiries about co-operation in this field. It is clear from this conference that a great revival is associated with bioactive products from the sea and Matís is at the forefront in this field. The next IFT conference is in Chicago in 2010 and Matís aims for another strong income then. Matís research in this field takes place both in the Matís Biotechnology Center in Sauðárkrókur and the Matís laboratory in Gylfaflöt in Reykjavík, in close collaboration with the University of Florida.

Further information on this research and the conference is provided by Dr. Hörður G. Kristinsson, Head of the Biotechnology and Biochemicals Division, hordur.g.kristinsson@matis.is.

From 15.-18. The Trans Atlantic Fisheries Technology Conference (TAFT 2009) will be held in Copenhagen next September, where many of Europe's, US and Canada's leading scientists in the field of seafood research and utilization will come together and compare their books.

This is the third joint conference of these parties.

The conference is hosted by WEFTA (West European Fish Technologists Association), an association of scientists in the field of fish industry research in Western Europe, and the AFTC (Atlantic Fisheries Technologists Conference), which is a similar association of scientists on the east coast of North America and Canada.

Anna Kristín Daníelsdóttir, anna.k.danielsdottir@matis.is, Matís' Director of Safety and the Environment at Matís, sits on the conference's scientific committee and provides further information about the conference.

From 17.-19. June a conference on drying will take place in Reykjavík. The conference is Nordic and is being held for the 4th time.

The theme of this year's conference is technology, processes and products that are important to communities and businesses, including the challenges that need to be taken into account when it comes to quality, development, problem solving, energy efficiency and the impact on the environment, climate and life systems. its whole.

For further information, please contact Sigurjón Arason at Matís, sigurjon.arason@matis.is.

In the summer of 2008, mackerel samples were collected east of the country within Icelandic and Faroese jurisdiction and the sorting properties of the mackerel were assessed.

The samples were collected from three vessels, they were taken from a separator on deck as soon as the catch was pumped on board. 30 fish from each vessel were measured per week. The following factors were measured; total length, standard length, head length, bowl length, tails, width, height, circumference and weight in addition, the sex of fish was analyzed. The fish was decapitated and gutted on board the freezer vessels before it was frozen.

The smallest mackerel were 29 cm, but they did not reach 1% of the total number. The longest was mackerel, which was 35-39 cm. Mackerel that was 40 cm or longer was 20% of the total number of samples, the largest samples were 44 cm long and were 1% of the total number. Mackerel will be at most 60 cm long.

The smallest mackerel was about 250 grams but mackerel that weighed less than 300 grams was 4% of the total sample. The vast majority of samples ranged from 300 - 599 grams or 80% of the total, although the relative majority of samples were 400-499 grams or 31%. The heaviest samples were over 700 grams and the heaviest was 790 grams, the proportion of samples over 700 grams was 3%. When the sex division is examined, it can be seen that 65% of the samples were snagged and 35% spawned. 

Initial observations of the classification of mackerel from herring have been carried out using Style classifiers. In the Style classifiers, the sorting channels transport the raw material down to the conveyor belts and the dimension of the belts is adjustable, so that the smallest fish first falls onto the conveyor belts but the larger fish continues and later falls onto the conveyor belts which transport it further to processing. When the classifier was set solely to classify mackerel, the herring immediately fell onto a conveyor belt that transported herring and small mackerel in a train, which was then landed for smelting. When the classifier was set to classify both herring and mackerel, the dimension of the straps was smaller in the front half of the classifier but much larger in the back half, so the herring could be sorted from the mackerel, but this precludes the possibility of classifying the fish. The disadvantage of this method is that small mackerel slips with the herring and then has to be lost from the herring catch.

The largest exporters of frozen mackerel, along with roe and liver, are Norway and the United Kingdom, with a combined total of over 50% of world export value. Other countries that export mackerel to some extent are the Netherlands, Ireland, Mauritania, Canada, Germany, the United States and China. The buyers of these products are mostly Japanese, Russians and Chinese.

The largest market for frozen mackerel is in Japan, where 26% of the total market value is located. On the other hand, the Japanese do not buy mackerel from Icelanders, the reason being that the mackerel that enters Icelandic jurisdiction is in food and fats very quickly after spawning, which causes loosening in the fish muscle. The Japanese therefore buy autumn and winter-caught mackerel mostly from Norway and Britain, which is of higher and more equal quality.

When looking at markets for mackerel products, it is clear that markets in Japan and Eastern Europe are the most prosperous markets in terms of both volume and price. While mackerel is only caught during the summer in Icelandic jurisdiction, it is not possible to sell mackerel on the Japanese market, but markets in Eastern Europe show interest in summer-caught mackerel and buyers were willing to pay over 2500 usd / ton in the summer of 2008.

The project was funded by AVS.

The Open University at RU has entered into a co-operation agreement with Matís and the Reykjavík Academy on the development of courses and study lines as well as teaching, in order to strengthen education in the Icelandic economy.

Progressive training and education of managers, specialists and company employees enables them to excel in competition and be creative in times of change.

Co-operation agreements were signed between the Open University, the Reykjavík Academy and Matís at 12:30 today at Reykjavík University.

"The Open University prides itself on offering the Icelandic economy access to powerful professionals and is pleased to be able to add disciplines to the current offer of the Open University through collaboration agreements with Matís and the Reykjavík Academy," says Guðrún Högnadóttir, Executive Director of the Open University, about the collaboration.

"In the work of the Reykjavík Academy, it is important to find ways to share the knowledge of the scholars who work there and utilize it in various ways. In the current crisis in society, there is a widespread revision of the basic ideas of business and society. In collaboration with the Open University, the Reykjavík Academy is participating for the first time in education for the business community, and there is no doubt that mutual acquaintances will enrich everyone who participates, " says Viðar Hreinsson, executive director of the Reykjavík Academy.

Sjöfn Sigurgísladóttir, CEO of Matís, emphasizes that this co-operation agreement fits in very well with Matís 'operations, as one of Matís' goals is to establish strong teaching and re-education, for example through co-operation with universities in Iceland and other educational institutions. "In this way, a strong connection is created between scientific work and research on the one hand and the business community on the other."

Through the collaboration, the Open University wants to enrich Icelandic society by disseminating and harnessing knowledge outside the traditional study lines at the university level. Through targeted training and education of employees, Icelandic companies can meet the changed business environment in a more dynamic way than before.

For further information, please contact Halldóra Guðrún Hinriksdóttir, Director of the Open University, tel. +354 864 0073.

In recent months, Matís has been responsible for experiments with logos on board fishing vessels to increase traceability and information flow within the value chain of marine products. 

Several types of tags have been tried, as well as the amount of information that appears on the tags and their utilization after the catch comes ashore. There is a growing interest among shipping companies to use data such as this, as all parties in the value chain are becoming much more aware than before of the values inherent in information and traceability.

For further information, contact Jónas R. Viðarsson at Matís, jonas.r.vidarsson@matis.is.

On December 7, 2007, the Minister of Fisheries appointed a committee to examine the status and possibilities of mussel farming in Iceland. The letter of appointment to the committee stated the following:

On December 7, 2007, the Minister of Fisheries appointed a committee to examine the status and possibilities of mussel farming in Iceland. The letter of appointment to the committee stated the following:

„The Minister of Fisheries has decided to appoint a committee to examine the situation and possibilities for mussel farming in Iceland with regard to both the biological and operational preconditions of the sector and environmental factors. The committee is intended to submit a report to the Minister and also make proposals for the measures that could be taken by the public sector to strengthen the general growth assumptions of the industry ".

The committee consisted of: Haukur Oddsson engineer, managing director of Borgun hf. (chairman), Ásta Ásmundsdóttir project manager at Matís ohf., Guðrún Þórarinsdóttir specialist at the Marine Research Institute, Jón Páll Baldvinsson from Skelrækt - an association of mussel breeders and Kristinn Hugason department manager, the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture.

This report is now available in English and a copy is available for download here.

Matís and Landsmennt, the educational fund of the Confederation of Icelandic Employers and workers in rural areas, recently signed a letter of intent for increased co-operation between them.

Matís has extensive experience and knowledge that grows every day and the company's goal is to disseminate that knowledge to the industry through seminars and retraining of employees of food companies. In this way, Matís intends to promote increased knowledge building within the business community, which can increase the companies' profitability and employee satisfaction at work.

Landsmennt is an educational fund for the Confederation of Icelandic Employers and workers in rural areas. There are 21 member associations, which are trade unions within the Icelandic Confederation of Trade Unions. Landsmenntar's main tasks are to carry out support projects and development and incentive measures in vocational education. The fund is intended to strengthen the operation of courses and promote innovations in curriculum development, as well as provide individuals, trade unions and companies with direct grants for continuing and re-education.

With the aim of ensuring the supply of professional courses and general retraining of employees, Landsmennt will subsidize courses under the auspices of Matís for general employees of food companies. 

The signatories declare that they intend to increase their co-operation and strive to offer companies and their employees the acquisition of knowledge that suits each individual's needs.

Attached is a photo from the signature.