Category: News

Contact

Jónas Rúnar Viðarsson

Director of Business and Development

jonas@matis.is

Here before, it was considered a sign of great catch claw and good catch to come ashore with so much catch that people could not get around the deck themselves without wading fish up to the waist. Fortunately, this has changed considerably in recent years, as fishermen are more aware of the importance of good handling of our precious seafood. 

The National Association of Small Boat Owners (LS) and Matís have in recent years been responsible for an effort where small boat fishermen are encouraged to take good care of all catches. A special project, Beautiful Fish, was tailored around this effort but on Facebook page of the project people share pictures that show different treatment of catch. It is safe to say that the beautiful fish has attracted attention. 

Most recently, all small boat fishermen received a thermometer as a gift along with a booklet from LS and Matís. A good package therefore found about 1000 small boat sailors, all around the country. 

The purpose of the project - the importance of good handling of catch

For many reasons, small boat owners have a unique opportunity to gain a unique position in the markets with their products. By drawing attention to the improved handling of catches, special attention is being paid to the possibility of increasing quality through cooling, not least due to the short time from fishing to processing, which is one of the characteristics of the small boat industry. 

The gift is intended for small boat owners, who want the fish markets that are landed at to record the temperature of the catch at auction. 

In the ever-increasing competition in the markets and the increased consumer awareness, the opportunities of the small boat industry are obvious. The freshness of the raw material, the environmental impact of the fishing and the image that small boat fishing has for consumers are paramount, but in order to take advantage of these competitive advantages, it is necessary to ensure maximum product quality.

Rapeseed cultivation, for the production of rapeseed oil, has increased significantly in the Nordic countries in recent years and is well on its way to becoming a useful plant in Icelandic agriculture. 

During cold-pressing of the oil from the rapeseed, the product is rapeseed flour (about 70% of the seed) which contains approx. 32% protein, 11% oil and fiber. The mortgage on this raw material is favorable and it is therefore interesting to see if it can be used in feed production. This product can only be used to a limited extent in feed for traditional domestic animals due to the negative effects of the relatively high content of unsaturated fat in the flour. 

Previous research by Matís, Hólar University and Fóðurverksmiðjan Laxár, has shown that up to 33% rapeseed flour can be used in feed for char without affecting growth or feed utilization. As the market for salmon feed is much larger than for char feed, therefore interested in examining how rapeseed flour is suitable in feed for salmon.

Matís is therefore examining this in an aquaculture experiment at Verin in Sauðárkrókur in collaboration with Hólar University, Fóðurverksmiðjan Laxá and Emmelev Trading in Denmark, which is one of the largest producers of rapeseed meal in the Nordic countries.

Ásbjörn Jónsson, consultant at Matís, will take a tour at the turn of the month July / August with Frøyanes AS, a Norwegian liner, to provide advice on how to use raw materials that would otherwise be discarded for the production of pet food. It is safe to say that dogs and cats are real farmers, as pet food from seafood is first class.

The purpose of the trip is to assist in the full utilization of seafood. The main emphasis will be on the opportunities available with canning on the side of raw materials from the catch for use in more valuable pet food. 

This is not the first time that Ásbjörn goes on such a trip, but he has been a frequent visitor to Norwegian shipping companies and his knowledge and work methods have been well received.

Contact

Jónas Rúnar Viðarsson

Director of Business and Development

jonas@matis.is

The FarFish project involves 21 companies and institutions from all over Europe, Africa and South America. In addition, a number of international organizations and representatives of individual countries involved have committed themselves to the project as needed. The project is managed by Matís, who is honored to be trusted with this important project.

The project manager is Jónas R. Viðarsson, professional leader of the value chain of research at Matís, but in addition to him a number of other employees of the company will be involved in the project. It is interesting to note that about 1.5 million of the 5 million euros for which the project is funded are paid to Icelandic participants.

Matís and the United Nations University Fisheries Training Program (UNU-FTP), located in Iceland, are participants in the FarFish research and development project, funded by the Horizon 2020 European Research Program. The project aims to promote the European Fleet's access to non-European waters, to increase knowledge of the fish stocks that the fleet visits in those areas, to identify the value chains involved in catching these vessels, and to increase knowledge of fisheries management among stakeholders. fishing come; it is for both the average coastal states and European economies.

"About 20% of the catch of the European fishing fleet is obtained from non-European waters. These catches are obtained, among other things, in international waters and within the jurisdiction of coastal states, where agreements have been made on the accessibility of the European fleet. Agreements with coastal states exist in several ways, and what is directly related to this project is on the one hand special agreements between individual fishing companies and authorities in each region and on the other hand agreements that the European Union makes with individual states against the will of financial support for infrastructure in the fisheries sector. URLs. These negotiators have been controversial, with the European Union and the European Navy accused, among other things, of plundering the resources of poor countries, especially on the west coast of Africa. In response to this criticism, the Horizon 2020 research program has decided to support research and development efforts to promote improvements in this area; that's where the FarFish project comes into play, "says Jónas Rúnar Viðarsson at Matís, a knowledge and science community based on strong research infrastructure and collaboration.

The FarFish project will focus on six oceans, within the jurisdictions of Cape Verde, Mauritania, Senegal and the Seychelles, as well as international oceans in the Southeast and Southwest Atlantic. the information is made available; fisheries management within the areas will be analyzed in detail and suggestions for improvements will be made; efforts must be made to increase the responsibility of the European fleet when it comes to utilization and information; and knowledge of the fundamentals of fisheries management will be built up among coastal stakeholders and the intra-European fishing fleet.

, It is clear that this is an extremely important issue and that the park is not attacked as it is minimal. Although it is also important to keep in mind that if the project succeeds in promoting any kind of progress in this complex and often uncontrolled fishery, it will have a decisive effect on the development of important fish stocks and the livelihoods of many people, both in coastal countries and outside Europe. in Europe.

A new article, the fourth in a row in issue 30/2017, of the international scientific journal Icelandic Agricultural Sciences (IAS) has been published. 

This is a short article and in Icelandic it would be called "An examination of the plant selection of bumblebee (Bombus jonellus) in Southwest Iceland". The study was carried out in two places, in Heiðmörk and by Vífilsstaðavatn, in the summer of 2016. In the first half of the summer, the peat bumblebee (honey fly, wild bee fly) was fed mainly on thyme and mountain dandelion, slightly on bluegrass and very little on some other plant species. In the latter part of the summer there was a wider variety of flowering plants and the food choice was not as homogeneous. The peanut butter was mainly eaten on meadow roses, carrion, heather, thyme, dandelion and goldenrod. The study showed a clear difference in the choice of peat bumblebee plants between the early summer and late summer and that it takes advantage of the variety of flowering plants in the late summer.  

This interesting article can be accessed at IAS website

Contact

Óli Þór Hilmarsson

Project Manager

oli.th.hilmarsson@matis.is

It can be stated that there is an untapped opportunity in the utilization of sheep and goat milk in this country. There is an interest in milking and processing from milk, as the possibilities are perhaps greater than ever before to offer home-grown agricultural products now that our country is such a popular destination for tourists. There is also no need to look at all the possibilities that may exist in increasing value creation in Icelandic agriculture.

It is planned to hold an educational meeting for those who are interested in starting milking and processing of sheep and goat milk products. The aim of the meeting is to inform people what facilities need to be available, what requirements are made for the facilities and what needs to be considered before embarking on such a project. It is interesting to note that the interest in this meeting is much greater than we expected and now well over 30 interested people have registered for the meeting.

At the meeting, Sveinn Rúnar Ragnarsson, a farmer in Akurnes, will present the experience of the farmers in Akurnes from the implementation of sheep milking. Óli Þór Hilmarsson at MATÍS will discuss the requirements for processing according to current regulations. Sigtryggur Veigar Herbertsson, RML's shop technology consultant, will also discuss milking facilities.

May 24 last the conference "Today's waste - tomorrow's resource" was held at the Grand Hotel, but the conference was a collaboration The Environment Agency, Farmers' Association of Iceland, FENUR, State Land Reclamation, Matís, Iceland Innovation Center, Association of companies in the fishing industry, Industry Association and The ocean cluster.

The conference focused on improving the utilization of organic by-products in Iceland and was the culmination of the Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers for the Nordic Bioeconomy (NordBio). NordBio's goal is to make the Nordic region a leader in the sustainable production and use of living resources in order to reduce waste and promote innovation, a green economy and rural development.

Booklet on the Nordic Bioeconomy (NordBio)

Contact

Guðjón Þorkelsson

Strategic Scientist

gudjon.thorkelsson@matis.is

Matís and Department of Design and Architecture, Iceland Academy of the Arts (LHÍ) wrote in the last week under a declaration of intent that expresses interest in increased cooperation, with increased value creation, product development and promotion of the products of the Icelandic bioeconomy as a goal.

Matís and the design and architecture department of LHÍ believe that research and collaboration can lay the foundation for a change in thinking regarding innovation and technological revolution in food production, design and product development in Iceland, increased production of healthy and nutritious foods that appeal to consumers while promoting sustainable production. development in the bioeconomy and contribute to the unleashing of new forces when it comes to the development of the Icelandic food industry.

In an era of challenges in the areas of food security, nutritional security and public health and major changes in demographics around the world, it is important to look in a new way at utilizing Iceland's genetic resources and cultural heritage related to the bioeconomy, potential for agriculture in and near urban areas and utilization of international technology. value creation and improved public health. User-centered design, products and services, guided by sustainable development, are fundamental in this context.

Matís is a powerful knowledge company that performs diverse research, service and innovation in the food and biotechnology industry, with increased value creation, improved food security and improved public health as a goal. In recent years, Matís has achieved very good results in joining the International Research and Innovation Fund, in collaboration with Icelandic and foreign companies and institutions. 

The Faculty of Design and Architecture at the University of the Arts offers a BA program in product design and an international MA program in design. The department emphasizes the utilization of local raw materials for development and innovation. In recent years, the department has worked on research projects in the field of food design and product development with sustainability, value creation and the competitiveness of Icelandic agriculture, fisheries, industry and society in mind.

Contact

Sigurjón Arason

Chief Engineer

sigurjon.arason@matis.is

Benjamin Aidoo defends his master's thesis in environmental and natural resources studies at the University of Iceland. Benjamin's thesis is entitled "Effects of different smoking methods on the formation of polyaromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAH) and physicochemical quality in smoked mackerel products"

Further location

• Matís
• Vínlandsleið 12
• 113 Reykjavík
• June 8, 2017 at 14
• Meeting room 312

Effects of different smoking methods on the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and physicochemical quality in smoked Atlantic mackerel products

Effects of different smoking methods on the formation of polyaromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHs) and the physicochemical quality of smoked mackerel products

The effects of different smoking methods and temperatures on the formation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoked mackerel were studied. The effects of different smoking methods, storage temperatures and packaging materials on the stability of hot smoked mackerel products were also investigated, by observing their physical and chemical properties. The study showed that the formation of PAHs was above the desired level if cell smoking was used on mackerel fillets. However, PAHs were found to be below the limit if the mackerel was smoked whole or in a Bradley smoke oven. However, the temperature obtained in the Bradley smoke oven was not high enough to ensure the stability of the products in terms of degradation by microorganisms, oxidation or enzymes through storage in the refrigerator. The formation of free fatty acids and oxidative derivatives was generally higher in fillets than in whole fish. The formation of TVB-N could also be slowed down if the fillets were stored under vacuum instead of air packaging. It is therefore recommended that mackerel be smoked whole in a cabin smoke oven, and stored in a refrigerator under a ventilated container to ensure maximum quality.

Supervisors

• María Guðjónsdóttir, University of Iceland
• Sigurjón Arason, Matís, University of Iceland

Everyone welcome!