Category: News

Pollution of heavy metals and other toxins in the sea around the country is generally well below international standards, according to a new report by Matís on changes in the marine environment around the country (AMSUM 2008).

The concentration of cadmium in Icelandic mussels is higher than in mussels from the waters of Europe and America.

Since 1989, an annual monitoring project of pollutants in the marine environment of Iceland has been underway. The project is funded by the Ministry for the Environment and partly by Matís. The Environment Agency is the administrator of the project.

Various pollutants in the ocean can enter marine organisms or organisms that feed on seafood. In many cases, this pollution is man-made and there is growing concern about this development. Pollutants are transported by air and sea currents from mainland Europe and America as well as pollution from Iceland. It is therefore important to monitor the amount of pollutants in Iceland, both in the environment and in the organisms that live in the country. It is also important to be able to compare the state of the marine life around Iceland with the situation in other countries, not least because of the importance of marine products to the nation.

Matís' report (Monitoring of the marine biosphere around Iceland in 2007 - 2008) presents the results of the monitoring project for the years 2007 and 2008. The study measures the heavy metals lead, cadmium, mercury, copper and zinc, arsenic and selenium, the persistent organic pollutants HCH, HCB, PCB, Chloride, trans-nonachlor, toxaphen, DDT and PBDE. The aim of the monitoring project is to identify changes that may occur in the concentration of trace elements in the marine environment around the country during a certain period and between different ocean and coastal areas. Among other things, the research is important for the sale of Icelandic seafood in foreign markets, where it can be demonstrated with scientific data that Icelandic fish is caught in an unpolluted environment.

The report states that the concentration of heavy metals such as mercury is very low. However, the concentration of cadmium has sometimes been higher in the marine environment in Iceland than in more southerly areas. However, the amount of cadmium is low in the organisms studied, for example in the range of 0.1-1 mg / kg in mussels. The high concentration of cadmium in Iceland is believed to have natural causes as there is no evidence of human-caused cadmium pollution. Thus, for example, cadmium levels in mussels have been higher in recent years in various places that are far from residential areas and commercial activities, such as in Mjóafjörður, than in Hvalfjörður and Straumsvík. Persistent organic pollutants are low in mussels and cod in Iceland. CB-153 is the highest concentration substance in mussels while DDE is the highest concentration in cod.

For further information, please contact Hrönn Ólína Jörundsdóttir, hronn.o.jorundsdottir@matis.is.

The annual meeting of NMKL (Nordic Food Research Committee) is currently taking place in Selfoss from 21 to 25 September.

Matís is largely in charge of organizing the annual meeting, but in addition, Franklín Georgsson, division manager at Matís, is on the committee's board. He is also Iceland's liaison with NMKL.

Further information can be found on the NMKL website, www.nmkl.org/

Matís and the Iceland Academy of the Arts recently signed a collaboration agreement. The good co-operation that has taken place so far will therefore be continued.

Matís is the largest research company in the country in the field of food research and food safety. Matís' policy is to strengthen the competitiveness of Icelandic products and the economy, improve public health, ensure food security and sustainable use of the environment through research, innovation and services in the field of food and biotechnology.

LHÍ is the only university in Iceland with recognition by the authorities in the field of art and the university is therefore a leader in the implementation of academic research in the development of art studies in this country. LHÍ has made it its stated goal to strengthen research in the field of art and is currently working on the preparation of research-related studies at the master's level. This refers to artistic research, which is based on the methods of the various art media in the innovation of knowledge and its dissemination.

This agreement is made by the parties to further strengthen co-operation between them.

The purpose of the contract

• Strengthen the theoretical and practical education of university students in the fields covered by the agreement.
• Increase research in the fields of study covered by the agreement and also be at the forefront and have a professional position in innovation in these fields of study.
• Attract students and scholars internationally.
• Ensure that the quality of the research of the Parties is comparable to that which takes place at the international level.
• Contribute to the development and increase competitiveness of Icelandic food production by establishing collaborative projects between producers, employees and / or students of LHÍ and Matís.
• Apply for grants for innovation and development projects in domestic and foreign competitive funds.
• Utilize opportunities for joint venture of equipment for the benefit of joint projects.
• Increase the number of undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of study of the agreement.

Experts from Matís give good advice on meat and vegetables on the television station ÍNN. This is a cooking show where Icelandic agricultural products are paramount.

Farmers have joined forces with the country's best-known chefs in the making of cooking shows that have been named "Eldum íslenskt". In the episodes, the main emphasis will be on Icelandic ingredients from the countryside and Ramm Icelandic cooking methods. It is the master chef Bjarni G. Kristinsson, head chef at Hótel Saga, who manages the shows, but they are done in close collaboration with ÍNN, the Farmers' Association, Matís and most agricultural associations. The episodes will be a mix of education and cooking and will refer to both traditions and modern methods. Among the chefs involved are Gunnar Karl at Dilli and Hrefna Sætran at the Fish Market as well as experienced people from the Hotel and Restaurant School. In addition, experts from Matís come to the show and inform TV viewers about meat and vegetables, for example how to debone meat. vegetables. The aim is to discuss traditional Icelandic home cooking and demonstrate the unequivocal quality of Icelandic agricultural production.

The episodes will be shown weekly this summer and autumn on the television station ÍNN as well as mbl.is, in addition to appearing on the websites of the agricultural associations as time goes on. The sponsors of the shows are the Chicken Farmers' Association, the Horticultural Farmers' Association, the Horse Farmers' Association, the National Association of Sheep Farmers, the National Association of Cow Farmers, the Icelandic Pig Breeding Association, the Tourism Farmers' Association, Beint frá býli, Hótel Saga and the Farmers' Association.

Óli Þór Hilmarsson and Valur Norðri Gunnlaugsson are Matís' experts in the shows.

A project carried out by Matís is about exploring the basis for establishing fish markets in Iceland for the general public and tourists.

The aim is to encourage the establishment of retail fish markets across the country and thereby strengthen the connection between consumers and seafood.

"The reason why we are starting this project is that fish consumption in Iceland is bad. Surveys have been conducted that people aged 15-19 are eating about one bite of fish a day and that is naturally just very bad and maybe the public's access to fish is not very good and the knowledge and this dialogue between the fishmonger and the buyer has actually been lost a bit. It is very important for us as a fishing nation to take this up again and strengthen this knowledge about fish ", said Brynhildur Pálsdóttir, an expert at Matís, in addition to which Þóra Valsdóttir from Matís and Theresa Himmer, architect, are involved in the project.

There has been a lot of interest in the project and everything points to such a market being established in Reykjavík soon. The project is funded by the AVS Fund (www.avs.is) and its results will be published this autumn.

The project manager's field of work must be to build a development center for small-scale food production in Mjólkurstöðin's premises in Egilsstaðir in order to strengthen small-scale production, product development and research on products from agriculture and other food industries.

Areas of work and responsibilities

• to manage the operation of Matvælamiðstöð Austurlands
• to work with small producers in East Iceland on the implementation of ideas for local food
• to work with other Matís experts on the definition and acquisition of research projects
• to participate in the teaching, education and organization of courses related to local food production.

The employment period is for one year. The situation will be reassessed after that time.

Qualification requirements
University education and / or work experience that is useful in the job. Experience in product development. Initiative, independence and diligence in working methods. Agility in human relations and ambition to succeed in work.

The office of Matvælamiðstöð Austurlands is located in Egilsstaðir and it is therefore necessary for the employee in question to be resident in East Iceland.

For further information
Guðjón Þorkelsson, tel. 422 5000. Applications with information about education and work experience, as well as recommendations should be sent to: Matís ohf., Borgartún 21, 105 Reykjavík or to jon.h.arnarson@matis.is.

The application deadline is July 15th.

Matvælamiðstöð Austurlands is a collaborative project of Þróunarfélag Austurlands, Búnaðarsamband Austurlands, milk producers in Hérað, the municipality of Fljótsdalshérað, Auðhumla / MS and Matís ohf. to build a development center for small-scale food production in the premises of Mjólkurstöðin in Egilsstaðir.

Matís is a knowledge company that specializes in food and biotechnology. Matís employs almost 100 people in nine places in the country. Matís' role is to strengthen the competitiveness of Icelandic products and the economy, improve public health and ensure food security and sustainable use of the environment through research, innovation and services.

The advertisement in pfd format can be found here.

Further information on Matís' operations and employment opportunities at the company is provided by Jón H. Arnarson, jon.h.arnarson@matis.is.

Matís and Mótás signed a lease agreement for the future Matís housing at Vínlandsleið 12 in Reykjavík recently. Friday, June 26th.

Steingrímur J. Sigfússon, the then Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, decided on 24 April, after submitting the case to the Government of Iceland, that Matís ohf. will move its operations to new premises by the end of next year.

In accordance with the goal of increasing the number of jobs in the construction industry, the State Construction Agency was commissioned to advertise for rental housing for Matís ohf. which now operates in three locations across the city.

It was then decided to choose the construction company Mótás, which had offered to rent a 3,800 square meter building at Vínlandsleið 12, Reykjavík. The house, which is now fully sealed, is on three floors with a basement, and the landlord will furnish the house and return it completely finished on the outside and inside. The landlord has estimated that the manpower requirement, including derivative work to complete the building in accordance with Matís' building description, is around 200 man-years.

By Act no. 68/2006 on the establishment of Matvælarannsóknir hf. authorized the Althingi to establish a limited company for the operation of the Fisheries Research Institute, Matvælarannsóknir Keldnaholt, cf. a co-operation agreement between the Institute of Technology and the Agricultural University, and the laboratory of the Environment Institute. In the comments on the bill, great emphasis was placed on enabling the company to merge under one roof the activities of the institutions that were being merged.

The company - Matís ohf. - entered into force on 1 January 2007.

Attached are photos from the signature, where you can see members of Matís' board, Matís' CEO and Mótás' managing director signing the agreement.

A major milestone was reached in April when Katrín Hauksdóttir at Matís in Akureyri increased the number of measurements in the field of pesticides from 49 to 62, but pesticides are used in the production of fruit and vegetables to prevent the invasion of insects and other pests.

This is a quarter increase which is a milestone that required a lot of work. This year, the number of substances measured using an accredited method was also increased by 12 and now 27 of these 62 substances are screened for accreditation. Materials added are:
Asefat
Bitertanol
Fenarimol
Fention
Fipronil
Fosmet
Methiocarb
Myclobutanil
Pirimicarb
Pyridaben
Pyrimethanil
Tebuconazole
Tetradifon

The aim is to apply for accreditation for more materials as circumstances allow. The materials added to the accreditation are as follows:
Vinklosolin
Metalaxyl
Malation
Aldrin
Isofenfos
Metadion
Buprofezin
Bromopropylate
Carbofuran
Ditalimfos
Lindan
Cyprodinil

Following this increase, Iceland is closer to meeting EU requirements for pesticide screening in domestic and imported vegetables and fruit. This greatly increases the safety of general consumers and a feather in Matís' cap.

The Nordic Council of Ministers' Steering Committee on "New Nordic Foods" recently nominated Brynhildur Pálsdóttir for an award in the field of "New Nordic Foods".

Brynhildur and Guðfinna Mjöll Magnúsdóttir and their company Borðið, were nominated from Iceland.

Brynhildur has worked for Matís for a while and has been involved in "Farmers 'and designers' meetings".

"Farmers 'and designers' meeting" is an entrepreneurial project for the benefit of the business community where two professions are brought together to create a unique product. There are great opportunities in food production and with systematic innovation in the raw material, the value added can be multiplied. Uniqueness and experience are of great value, so the goal of the project is to develop regional foods based on the highest quality, traceability and cultural appeal.

Matís has taken an active part in the above projects and is involved in product development.

Further information:
The table (large pdf file)
The table - CV (pdf file)

Matís ohf. recently started work on a large Nordic project, e-REK (e-TRACE), which works with research companies in Norway and Sweden.

The project is for two years and the main goal is to define, develop and implement traceability systems where food safety information is integrated with other real-time traceability information. The main purpose of such a system is to ensure complete traceability and at the same time increase product safety.

The partners of this project have recently developed a system that can ensure product traceability and this system is based on a standard from EPCGlobal and is based on RFID (Radio Frequency IDentificaton) technology.

Matís will be responsible for developing and adapting the traceability system to the typical process of marine products from processing to distributors, as well as defining the safety aspects that are important in such a system. Project manager Matís ohf. in this project is Sveinn Margeirsson, sveinn.margeirsson@matis.is.