Category: News

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Goals, are 17 in number. The ninth is about building strong infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization for all and fostering innovation. The aim is, among other things, to improve the technical capacity of industries in order to encourage innovation and increase the number of jobs in research and development. In this context, Iceland aims to increase public and private investment in 3% of GDP.

There are countless opportunities for innovation. In accordance with the strategic decision, to focus on increasing the value of seafood rather than increasing the amount of seafood, Icelanders have worked on innovation in the utilization of water-related resources, but fourteenth the world goal is to live in water. With developments based, among other things, on the implementation of research results, progress has been made in the Icelandic fisheries sector. Processing reforms aimed at increasing the utilization of raw materials increase the supply of nutritious foods, which reduces the temptation to overdo sensitive strains.

Teaching, educating and refining procedures throughout the food value chain supports responsible consumption that can help reduce waste in accordance with twelfth the world goal.

Recruitment in industries can be assessed with more than the number of new companies. New and powerful, often well-educated, employees can be taken into account. Industries are also renewed to some extent when talented people strive to develop industries with new roots. Instead of competing with each other in traditional production, opportunities lie in creating new things, launching new currents into society. We're good at what we do, but we need to do more. We know the fishing and processing of catfish, our main pelagic species and several shellfish species. Although there are still many things that we have not ascertained regarding the raw material side of the seafood value chain, there is further inland on the market side of the chain, not least when it comes to non-traditional products, such as food supplements. Analysis of incentives and responses to changes in attitudes and expectations of consumers in desirable markets often meet surpluses when the emphasis is on production rather than demand.

The economy in the country benefits from the existence of infrastructure and knowledge that is used in its development and to deal with and solve challenges that may arise. In an effort to be able to meet the needs of the business community, Matís has grown year by year, rather than limiting the scope of its operations to the amount of the company's service agreement with the Ministry of Industry and Innovation (ANR). 

Great emphasis has been placed on domestic and international co-operation and advances in research investment that has been used in development work and has resulted in, among other things, new equipment, products and / or contributed to increased efficiency and rationalization in the processing of seafood. 

Amounts or the percentage of GDP spent on innovation are not the only measures that can be taken on innovation and development. It is important to know what the goal is and how to evaluate what is being done. Some people rely on criteria related to known topics in scientific work, such as the number of published articles or citations to the articles that have been published by the person in question, without this ensuring the utilization of the knowledge. The number of projects that are being worked on can prove to be a contradictory measure of where too much energy may go into non-management rather than scientific work.

Matís employees  have been associated with increased export value, XDR for each kg obtained from the sea, at establishment and activity AVS Fisheries Research Fund and Technology Development Fund, as can be seen above. The support of these key funds for innovation projects has contributed to the development of the value chain of Icelandic seafood. Market conditions and catch composition also have a major impact on value formation in fishing and processing of seafood. Compared with the Food Price Index of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (e. FAO Fish Price Index) which is published regularly in Food Outlook, there are indications of a difference between the development of value creation in the Icelandic fisheries sector and the development of fish prices according to Art. FAO and for further clarification, a line is also drawn above which shows the development of the export value of the Faroese fisheries. 
But is there any reason to ask whether we are too productive or whether we have diverted our attention too much? Looking at the statistics, it can be seen that the increase in value has not risen as fast since 2011 as in the first years of the aforementioned funds' operations. It can be said that the export value of Icelandic catch has fluctuated in recent years rather than growth. In 2011, the highest budget allocation was granted by the ACP budget. In the current year's budget, the ACP budget is less than 44% of the maximum. It is not guaranteed that we can expect a similar number of innovations in connection with the Icelandic fisheries sector in the near future.

It can be assumed that it is now possible to improve and increase value creation even further, utilizing what has been created as a lever for future development. Just as we are tearing up the Icelandic fishing industry from the year 2003, where it can be said that stability has characterized the export value of fish caught, until the increase in value was noticed, there is an opportunity to do even better than we have done in recent years. Although AVS has deteriorated, contributions to the Technology Development Fund and innovation in the form of tax deductions have increased. It is up to stakeholders in the fisheries sector to take advantage of these opportunities.

Just as the power of leverage enables one to move things beyond what one can handle unsupported, one can work together to achieve success in value creation that promotes prosperity and well-being. Matís has used funds from a service agreement with ANR to raise funds for large projects for the development of the Icelandic economy and society. In recent years, Matís has generated ISK 2.7 in revenue from competition funds and in direct sales of services for every ISK from ANR. Hopefully, the aforementioned volatility of export values is not a direct consequence of the requirement for responsible operation of Matís and increased project management following the emphasis that employees finance the company by shaping projects that benefit the economy.

The infrastructure of the economy can stimulate development, if it is good, but hinder it if it is not. Matís' operations have attracted attention. Now kanna the Faroese government the possibility of establishing operations in that country similar to Matís. If people are satisfied with the experience of Matís' operations, it would be preferable to utilize the driving force that has characterized the operations and reflects two of the company's values, creativity and initiative, in ongoing collaboration to further increase value creation. In this way, the sustainable growth of the communities in the countryside around the country can be promoted in spirit eleven of the world goal.

The article first appears in Sóknarfæri - Initiative and professionalism in the Icelandic fishing industry - 16 February

Each major event follows Matís | Last week, he was the head of one of the most famous whiskey producers in the world in Iceland for a conference held at Matís' headquarters in Reykjavík. This week is EiT Food Innovation Week and in connection with it, about 20 foreign students and professors related to innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe and beyond will come to Iceland. In addition, about 10 Icelandic students will participate.

One of these professors is Dr. Shima Barakat, who is known for her involvement in the construction of the Cairo train system, has been working on innovation at Cambridge University in the UK for the past few years. It is a great gift to have Dr. Barakat to the country.

EiT Food Innovation Week (EiT Venture Week), will take place in Iceland next week, 12-17. March in connection with Design March. The week is based on students, with support from teachers at the University of Iceland, the Iceland Academy of the Arts, Cambridge University and VTT in Finland, using their knowledge and experience to create new thinking, come up with new ideas and concepts that lead to new solutions when is about utilizing the ocean's resources in a sustainable way. The beginnings are no coincidence, as Icelanders are considered when it comes to the sustainable management of the ocean's resources.

Further information can be obtained from Guðjón Þorkelsson, 858-5044, and Björn Viðar Aðalbjörnsson, 696-2911, but information can also be found on the Innovation Week's website.

"The precondition for agriculture to be able to take advantage of the opportunities of the future is balance in production, effective control and innovation" / This title is in the government charter and is true. But what does it mean? What is the relationship between future opportunities, production balance, effective control and innovation? This needs to be answered and it will only be done by formulating a clear policy on food production in Iceland, according to Hrannar Ólína Jörundsdóttir, Guðjón Þorkelsson and Sveinn Margeirsson.

The question needs to be answered: "What do we really want Icelandic agriculture to do?" . 

How can many tufts overturn a heavy load? 

Icelandic agriculture is a small industry. Today, about 4,000,000,000 tonnes of food are produced worldwide. Icelandic agriculture is of the order of 200,000 tonnes (about 0.005% of world production). Most Icelandic farmers would be considered small farmers in international comparison and the research and innovation environment is dwarfed and in fact relatively poorly compatible, although in our opinion there are many benefits in this respect. In addition, the relationship between research and the value chain of agricultural products is not clear and it is all too common for the volume of research to be insufficient to have a real impact on the interests of farmers and other entrepreneurs in the value chain. This needs to be changed, using leverage methods. Examples of leverage are individuals who use borrowing as leverage to achieve more than just themselves. Inputs from individuals and cohabitants are added to inputs from a financial institution and the result is that a family can put a roof over their heads and thereby roll a heavy load. The same principles apply to farmers and agriculture. Ministries and government agencies need to join forces and work across silos. Private individuals and investors need to invest with long-term interests in mind, instead of focusing on the next three-month results. 

Sustainable food production is the burden that needs to be turned over 

Sustainability is about securing future interests while at the same time putting the well-being of modern people first. This requires understanding and working for a solid economic, environmental and social context. In that respect, Iceland is not an island, as we influence others and others influence us. Marine pollution due to pollution and the judgments of the EFTA Court are two examples. The third example is the success of Icelanders in innovation in the fisheries sector, which is an inspiration to other nations for good deeds. This success should be an inspiration to Icelandic agriculture, as the establishment of the AVS Fund in 2003 and the Technology Development Fund in 2004 were key to the journey of more than doubling the value per kg of catch. Other turmoil that has taken its toll is, for example, an overall view of a market-driven value chain, investments in research and equipment and the courage to go beyond the framework and work together across different companies and institutions, with the main goal of increasing the value of Icelandic seafood. 

Will Icelandic agriculture save the world? 

Icelandic agriculture will not save the world from hunger, but has great opportunities in the specialty goods market, where demand is growing faster than in other food markets. Organic farming, origin, unspoiled land, clean energy and local food production are key words. A key question from the point of view of food security in Iceland is: How much do we want Icelandic agriculture to be able to produce a lot of food without importing inputs? We are a little better off, from a food security point of view, if we need to import a significant amount of inputs for food production, than by importing the food ourselves. We need to set goals for Icelandic agriculture and formulate a policy to achieve those goals. Is Iceland a country of commodity production or do we base our image on data on health and nature conservation and the integrated interests of tourism with the interests of agriculture and fisheries? Do we expect restaurants to have Icelandic food and the Icelandic language as a priority? We need to decide who to target. Within the framework of strategic planning, entrepreneurs need to be given the freedom to try new solutions, to deal with changing times and changing thinking. Experience and infrastructure that have been built up must be used in the future. We need to understand who are the key partners and stakeholders in the present and the future, and clearly communicate the actions that need to be taken. These actions must take into account the United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development Goals and the Treaty of Paris.

Risk assessment is the basis of a sensible food policy 

Increased demand for food globally is likely to push up food prices. Land prices are rising in most places, arable land is declining due to the greenhouse effect and extreme weather is causing crop failures. All of these are risk factors when it comes to food security and fluctuations in food prices. Bacterial antibiotic resistance is a real risk, and without falling into the trap of isolationism, we should openly discuss the benefits of promoting diversified food production with food security, rural development and public health as our goal. Is there an opportunity to increase freedom in the slaughter and home processing of lamb and the marketing of the products to tourists and others in the local area? Does such an arrangement really involve unacceptable risks when applying scientific risk assessment methods?

Risk assessment is the basis of effective supervision 

Trust is the basis of business and consumer sentiment. It takes a long time to build up but a short time to break down. Effective supervision is one of the prerequisites for building trust and demonstrating the quality of Icelandic food production and integrity within the value chain. For monitoring to be effective, scientific, independent risk assessment must be performed. Such a risk assessment makes a distinction between large production units and smaller units and the nature of food distribution. In fact, it makes surveillance more equitable, so to speak, taking into account different circumstances, without jeopardizing people's safety.

Risk assessment is the basis of innovation

Innovation is the driving force behind sustainable economic growth. Scientific risk assessment lays the foundation for diversity and flexibility in the regulatory framework, which is a prerequisite for innovation to flourish. With new thinking and the introduction of technological solutions, we can reduce the environmental impact of the production of Icelandic agricultural products, reduce the import of inputs, increase the value and diversity of products and improve profitability. In many parts of the country there are great business people, entrepreneurs and idealists. These people need to be given space to act and make sure that the infrastructure and support system of innovation is compatible with the real situation. In order for innovation to take off, Icelandic agriculture needs to be a pillar of wisdom in a wider range of knowledge, such as the creative industries, food science, biotechnology, information technology and engineering, and take into account opportunities and threats. Rational land use, the introduction of technological innovations, the development of an image based on concern for the environment and the production of products based on access to clean water are the driving forces for the growth and development of the Icelandic economy and society. 

Innovation is a prerequisite for balance in production

Balance in production does not mean that production is always the same. On the contrary. The balance of demand and production is only achieved through product development that takes into account the expectations and needs of consumers. Product development also affects the environmental impact of production, which is basically a multiple of population, per capita consumption and the environmental impact of a unit produced. We are increasing in number and per capita consumption is increasing in the world (Icelanders are at the forefront of this category). On the other hand, we need to work with innovation and improved utilization of resources, in order to reduce the environmental impact of the unit produced and reduce waste. A great example of such innovation is that the utilization of cod is close to 80% today and that Icelandic fishing vessels use about 40% less oil today than in 1990. This is possible! With a scientific risk assessment, it is possible to steer control towards important control points and communicate clearly to society what the risk of food consumption and production is. Based on the risk assessment, it is possible to make decisions about what should be allowed and what should be banned or restricted (eg import of raw / fresh meat). In some cases, limited risks may be acceptable, if, for example, the objectives of increasing the sustainability of food production are achieved. Without risk assessment, however, such risk management is impractical, thereby reducing the potential for innovation and increased sustainability. An example of this is that the utilization of raw materials that have been defined as waste is completely prohibited for food production. The experiments of Icelandic entrepreneurs and Matís with the use of insects for feed production have stalled, among other things due to such rules. In this regard, we need to think outside the box and look at how we jointly aim for the full utilization of raw materials with the goal of value creation throughout the country, without, however, putting people's health at unacceptable risk. 

Knowledge is a prerequisite for innovation

In order for agriculture in Iceland to be able to develop and really put its weight on the scales towards increased sustainability, it needs to be a pillar of wisdom. Conditions need to be created that call for powerful people to live, harvest and process, product development, marketing and innovation in general. In this context, the experience of farmers and the education system, which is today international, play a key role. 20th century production thinking is on the wane due to demographic change and technological revolution. The role of the future farmer must not least be to acquire and apply new knowledge and technology, to improve their conditions, handle raw materials, treat land and meet the needs of consumers. There is no reason for conservatism in that respect, it is closer to cultivating the relationship of the future farmer and other members of society with an increased emphasis on the origins of raw materials, crafts and the interplay of the image of the Icelandic food country and the Icelandic tourist country. There must be a context in the cultivation of people and land. Poor land treatment and pollution are a threat to the production of healthy food, nutritional security and Iceland's reputation. This contributes to poorer public health and, consequently, to increased costs for the health care system and will, in the future, hurt taxpayers. That is why we must not save money but throw away the króna when it comes to decisions about the necessary investment in food production innovation, for the benefit of farmers and all Icelanders.

The article first appeared in Bændablaðið on March 8, 2018

Laugardalskvöldið on March 3 was a fun discussion News Stations 2 about how MS is turning whey into wine, but MS is collaborating with several parties on this interesting project, including Matís and Auðhumla, who support the project through Milk in many forms. 

About the project

The aim of the project is to extract value from whey liquid that is disposed of today. During the processing of cheese whey, about 50 million liters of whey liquid containing 5-6% lactose are produced annually. This product can be used to produce two million liters of ethanol. Methods of production of ethanol from whey are known, but key steps in maximum performance are not available. The purpose of the project "Whey in wine" is to develop the most efficient production process for converting whey into ethanol for Icelandic conditions. The value of the products can be around 150 million if they are sold as industrial ethanol. A much higher price is obtained if the ethanol is sold for consumption. Companies that produce alcoholic beverages from Icelandic nature and imported ethanol have a great need for Icelandic ethanol for marketing. The value of ethanol could be up to three billion as alcohol, for example "Kusu-Vodki"Which the intention is to develop, or as liqueurs. The environmental benefits of the project are significant as the disposal of whey liquids increases the biological load on the environment.

News Stations 2 about the project.

Icelandic Trademark Holding, the owner of the trademarks Icelandic and Icelandic Seafood and Margildi ehf. have signed a license agreement for the marketing and sale of fish oils under the brand name Icelandic Fish Oil in the United States. Sales and distribution are scheduled to begin later this year. It should be noted that Matís is a close partner of Margildi.

Further information can be found on Margildi's website and in the following news coverage:

• https://kvotinn.is/icelandic-og-margildi-skrifa-undir-samstarfssamning/
• https://www.mbl.is/vidskipti/frettir/2018/02/05/hefja_solu_lysis_i_bandarikjunum/
• http://www.vb.is/frettir/selja-lysi-i-bandarikjunum/144765/

Strandbúnaður 2018 is a conference on aquaculture, shellfish and algae farming. The conference will be held at the Grand Hotel Reykjavík, 19-20. March.

The agenda of the conference can be found in the link below, but the agenda is divided into a number of seminars:

• Ethics, welfare and the environment
• Health in Strandbúnaður - work and awareness raising
• Utilization of microalgae - a breakthrough in the production of organic matter
• The fate of Icelandic shellfish farming - in light of competition with live imported shells
• Land farming of salmon
• Harvest Festival of Research
• Salmon lice - an "emerging" problem?
• Farming is more than salmon
• Informative presentation of service providers - On land
• Informative service provider - At sea

The program is varied in these 10 seminars and there are a total of 60 lectures.

More

Matís and Beint frá býli (BFB), an association of home processors, have concluded a co-operation agreement to the effect that Matís performs chemical and microbiological measurements for Beint frá býli members that are necessary according to official requirements for small food processing, to ensure food safety.

The photos show Þorgrímur Guðbjartsson from Erpsstaðir, chairman of Beint frá býli and Sveinn Margeirsson from Mælifellsá, CEO of Matís, at the signing of the agreement; and then when reading Bændablaðið immediately afterwards. 

What else !? 

For further information, please contact the BFB Board, bein@beintfrabyli.is 

Icelandic agriculture is at a crossroads. The position is to some extent such that it is to recoil or jump. The opportunities are there with technological innovations, climate change, increased number of tourists and more. but the dangers are also around the corner. 

A big party will now be held for all those who want to take part in Icelandic agriculture in the future in some way. Come, take part in Landsýn 2018 in Salurinn in Kópavogur, on Friday 23 February. There are really interesting lectures, good food and fun people to chat with, as can be seen in the program.

Agriculture is dying!
Join us at LANDSÝN 2018

Registration

The title of Nordic Sensory Workshop 2018, which will be held in Reykjavík on 3 and 4 May, this time is "Making Sense", where our senses and their interaction in connection with product development and food production will be discussed.

The emphasis will be on scientific results and their usefulness. Examples of where, when, how and why we should use sensory evaluation in product development, production and marketing will be examined. Professionals and scientists who work with sensory assessment, quality issues and consumer issues in the field of food get the opportunity to meet and compare their books.

More information can be found on the event's website, which can be accessed via the "More" link below.

More about "Making sense"

A very interesting conference is currently taking place in Brussels. Its English name is Making Marine and Maritime Research Count and it refers, among other things, to the fact that we need to transfer the results of our research at sea to different disciplines and stakeholders in order for the research to have a real impact. Matís' CEO, Sveinn Margeirsson, was invited to sit on the conference panel of the conference, and Matís is thus honored.

Information about this interesting conference can be found on the website COLUMBUS project.