Climate change is real and lasting. Concerns about climate change are a threat to the sustainable growth of aquaculture and fisheries worldwide. The world's population is growing rapidly, demands for nutritious and healthy food are increasing and future forecasts point to a contraction in food production due to climate change.
ClimeFish - New project
ClimeFish is a European research project funded by the European Research Program, Horizon 2020, and work on the project began on 1 April. The aim of the project is to ensure that the production of marine products can increase, both in species and in areas where sustainable increase is possible, taking into account expected climate change. The project will be a factor in ensuring the safe supply of food, job security and the sustainable development of rural coastal areas.
The ClimeFish project will develop deviation examples and conduct a socio-economic analysis to identify risks and opportunities for aquaculture in the light of climate change. Methods will also be developed to reduce risk and identify opportunities in collaboration with stakeholders. This will serve the purpose of strengthening scientific advice and improving long-term production plans and policies. In the ClimeFish project, production will be examined in three areas, in fishing, aquaculture in the sea and aquaculture in lakes and ponds. Sixteen case studies will be carried out on more than 25 fish species across Europe. Stakeholders in the project are 21 from 16 countries and come from universities, research institutes and medium-sized companies.
Recently, dr. Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir, CEO of IceProtein and Protis, the Fisheries Incentive Award. The award is a rose in the buttonhole of Hólmfríður, the staff of IceProtein and Protis and FISH Seafood, owner of IceProtein and Protis and recognition of the activities of these companies in Skagafjörður. The award is also a special pleasure for Matís because it is not so long since Hólmfríður worked at Matís' biotechnology center in Sauðárkrókur.
But what is IceProtein and what kind of business is involved in the company?
History of IceProtein, Matís in Sauðárkrókur and dr. Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir
IceProtein
At the Fisheries Research Institute (IFL), which is Matís' predecessor, an innovative company was established in 2005 for research projects that involved the utilization of proteins from marine products that were not fully utilized in processing. In 2006, due to FISK Seafood's interest in the operation, the IceProtein factory was moved to Sauðárkrókur and became part of Be Science Parks.
FISK Seafood then acquired a 64% share in Iceprotein in 2009 against a 36% share in Matís. IceProtein and Matís have been involved in a number of research projects. IceProtein's policy was to apply for grants for research and development of service projects for Kaupfélag Skagfirðinga and other companies. Kaupfélag Skagfirðinga established a development fund to support research related to the company's operations in 2010 and the fund's income was 0.15% from the operating income of each production unit. Since the establishment of the development fund, IceProtein's operations have increasingly been linked to service projects for Kaupfélag Skagfirðinga. At the end of 2012, FISK Seafood bought Matís' share in IceProtein and hired dr. Hólmfríður Sigurðardóttir as managing director. Shortly afterwards, more employees were hired for the company and the research capacity and production increased.
In 2015, IceProtein's operations led to the establishment of a new company, Protis, which handles the production and sale of a new product line under the name of the new company. Today, three types of supplements are produced under the name Protis and they are sold in most stores in this country. In January 2016, there were four Protis and IceProtein employees and they all have a degree in biotechnology and biochemistry.
Matís in Sauðárkrókur
In November 2008 opened Matís biotechnology center in Sauðárkrókur where a specialized biotechnology and biochemical laboratory was located. The aim was to bring together companies in Skagafjörður and apply advanced research technology in the production of products from underutilized raw materials. The biotechnology center worked with IceProtein on experimental production and facilities were set up for the analysis of bioactive substances. The biotechnology center in Sauðárkrókur was established with the support of FISK Seafood, which is one of the largest fisheries companies in the country. At the beginning of 2016, Matís had four employees in Sauðárkrókur.
From Verin in Sauðárkrókur
Dr. Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir
Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir defended her doctoral dissertation at the University of Iceland in May 2008 and then began working in the autumn at the Matís biotechnology center in Sauðárkrókur together with other staff and master's students. Since then, Hólmfríður has been in charge of research and development in the field of biotechnology and biomaterials. Hólmfríður's doctoral degree is in the field of biotechnology and in her master's studies she studied nutrition. Her field of interest has been research on biomaterials derived from marine raw materials and with special emphasis on proteins and peptides derived from cod (Gadus morhua).
In 2011, FISK Seafood, which had then acquired a majority stake in IceProtein, invested in new headquarters and moved IceProtein and Matís' biotechnology center to that premises. On that occasion, Matís added equipment to the biotechnology center. In 2013, when FISK Seafood had fully acquired IceProtein, Hólmfríður moved from Matís and became the managing director of IceProtein.
"I hope that this award will not only be a water on our mill in Skagfjörður to continue working closely with all kinds of entrepreneurs for the benefit of innovation and development of FISK Seafood and the industry for good, but will also encourage other fisheries companies to increase cooperation with entrepreneurs . Innovation results in better quality in fishing and processing, improved image, more diverse marketing methods and more value creation within the companies. " Dr. Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir
In parallel with the Faroese Presidency's program of the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Faroese company Syntesa has been tasked with exploring the Nordic countries' potential for better utilization of marine resources.
As part of this work, Syntesa, together with partners in Norway, Greenland and Iceland, has been responsible for working meetings with stakeholders and analyzed various documents relating to the utilization of catches. Such a meeting was held in Matís' premises last November. which succeeded with great excellence.
It is now time for the second meeting in Iceland in this series of meetings, and Syntesa's employees will report on the main results of the workshops in Norway, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland. The meeting will take place at Matís' premises, Vínlandsleið 12, from 9:00 to 11:00, 14 April.
It is expected that the results of the workshops will to some extent shape the Nordic Council of Ministers' policy regarding the full utilization of fish catches and support for research and development in this area in the coming months. It is therefore important that the voices of most stakeholders are heard at these meetings. It is clear that when it comes to (full) utilization of marine catches, Icelanders are at the forefront, but there is always room for improvement. It is therefore important that stakeholders discuss how to improve technology, adapt the legal environment / fisheries management, develop new products and markets, etc. so that all the catch that is caught comes ashore and becomes a valuable product.
In recent months, a number of companies have sprung up that produce so-called by-products. This sector is booming and it is clear that many opportunities lie in the utilization of raw materials that were previously discarded, buried or smelted. It is important that the needs of this sector are taken into account when discussing full utilization.
It is the hope of those involved in the meeting that as many stakeholders as possible will be able to attend and contribute so that the perspectives and needs of as many people as possible are expressed.
Improved utilization of marine catch in the Arctic
Location: Matís, Vínlandsleið 12, Reykjavík Time: April 14, 2016 at 9: 00-11: 00
Agenda
9:00 Meeting (Jónas R. Viðarsson - Matís) 9:10 Main results "all in land" (Unn Laksá - Synthesis) 9:40 Economic analysis of improved utilization of marine catch (Magni Laksafoss - Synthesis) 10:00 Full utilization of catfish in Iceland (Ásbjörn Jónsson - Matís) 10:15 Discussion (Jónas R. Viðarsson - Matís) 11:00 End of meeting
It is necessary to announce participation by sending an e-mail to Jónas R. Viðarsson at Matís, jonas@matis.is
Fraud in the food trade is a serious problem and fish are among the foods where the most fraud seems to occur. Matís held a seminar where food fraud was discussed from various angles, and among other things examined how genetic engineering can be used to promote greater integrity.
Matís is one of 38 participants in a large pan-European project, Food Integrity, which aims to detect food fraud and develop preventive methods. The project has been allocated a total of EUR 12 million and Matís' share is in trade in seafood.
Palm oil and melamine
Jón Árnason, project manager at Matís, gave a talk at the conference where he discussed how to monitor and verify the content of feed in aquaculture. He says problems with aquaculture feed are fortunately rare, but still need to be addressed. Consumers are also increasingly demanding to know a lot about the origin of all the food they eat. "Consumers not only look at the quality and the price, but also where the food comes from and what it contains. This makes it even more important for aquaculture companies to be able to trace with certainty all the raw materials used for aquaculture. "
Jón mentions some examples, such as the controversy that arose in the discussion about Norwegian salmon farming a year ago. "There was a lot of discussion about the use of palm oil in fish feed due to the way palm oil is produced in many parts of the world. Farmers are destroying wild jungle to pay for palm farming, and this is affecting the ecosystem in those areas. "
Jón also mentions the uproar that took place in Europe at the time when it was discovered that the producer had mixed meat and bone meal with traditional fish meal. "This was when the fear of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was at its height and led to the European Union severely restricting the use of fishmeal for a while."
Jón even says that it is possible that producers could start adding melamine to aquaculture feed to create misleading results about nutritional content. "It is an inorganic compound of nitrogen that is not useful as a nutrient and can even act as a toxin, but if an analysis were made of the nitrogen content of melamine-mixed feed, it would indicate that the protein content was higher than it actually is."
What can you do then? Jón says the only way to ensure integrity is to promote a high-quality flow of information down the entire value chain. Another way is to use international standards and chairs for official supervision. "The Aquaculture Stewardship Council and various other standards seek to certify processes and quality down the entire value chain." The third way is to use genetic engineering and let the feed samples tell the story. "If there is a suspicion that there is a raw material in the feed that should not be there, then a genetic test can determine whether this is the case. Even in the form of flour, it is possible to identify what has gone into the feed, such as what plant and animal species are found there.
The above-mentioned news / interview is published in Morgunblaðið and on www.mbl.is March 17 / ai@mbl.is.
Further information is provided by Jón Árnason at Matís.
Rannís awarded grants from the Research Fund for the grant year 2016 last month. Matís received two outstanding grants, of which Matís has project management in one of them, but both grants are related to microbiological research. Matís also received research position and doctoral student grants related to, on the one hand, research on microorganisms and, on the other hand, mackerel research.
The projects will be carried out in collaboration with the Marine Research Institute, the University of Iceland, the Institute of Natural History, ÍSOR and international partners. The second major grant, MIME, will be used to gain a better overview of the diversity of microorganisms in the oceans around Iceland and their role in the food chain. Information on the diversity of micro-organisms in Icelandic waters can be of great practical value to the Icelandic fishing industry.
About the MIME project
Research on the diversity of marine microorganisms has increased significantly in recent years, but there is little information on microorganisms in the ocean around Iceland. The aim of the project is to study microbial diversity in samples that have been collected annually for seven years at defined sampling stations around the country. In the project, the effects of global warming and ocean acidification will be investigated in terms of microbial diversity and chemical cycles in the ocean. Three hypotheses have been put forward: "a) There is a great difference between microbial communities in the north and south of the country, b) Synechococcus is found in the North Atlantic Ocean near Iceland and in the cold Arctic Ocean, but does not play a key role as primitive microorganisms as in lower latitude, and c) Ocean acidification occurs more rapidly in northern areas compared to temperate and tropical areas and therefore has a greater impact on marine microorganisms in northern latitudes, causing changes in diversity and their numbers ". Answers to these hypotheses are obtained using the latest technology in DNA sequencing of genomes and gene expression as well as the use of microbial analysis. Research emphasis will be placed on comparing different characteristics of ocean areas such as the cold polar sea from the north with the warmer sea coming from the south with the Irminger current. Oceanography and bioinformatics data will be put into context with a new program (MB3-IS) to examine the synergies between microorganisms and environmental variables. New strains of microorganisms will be isolated and described.
Right now, the Fisheries Incentive Award was presented at the annual conference of the Association of Companies in the Fisheries Sector.
Dr. Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir, who manages the company IceProtein in Sauðárkrókur, received the Fisheries Incentive Award given at the annual conference of the Association of Fisheries Companies in 2016. IceProtein and Protis recently launched a new product line based on years of research into the health benefits of fish proteins. We find this an extremely interesting initiative by a powerful entrepreneur in the field of research and development in rural areas.
Jens Garðar Helgason, chairman of the Association of Companies in the Fisheries Sector, and Karen Kjartansdóttir, Communications Director of the Association of Companies in the Fisheries Sector, presented the award.
IceProtein in Sauðárkrókur is a powerful company that works on research and development of the processing of valuable substances, mainly from seafood, with the aim of increasing utilization and value creation in the fisheries sector. Iceprotein has four employees as well as research students.
Matís wishes Hólmfríður and the staff of IceProtein as well as FISK Seafood, sincere congratulations on the award.
Matís offers safe and good service that fully compares with the services of comparable foreign companies and institutions.
More and more people are realizing the importance of genetics. Whether it is a genetic analysis of fish, for example due to disputes over species stocks, an analysis of the pedigree of dogs when it comes to buying a purebred dog or an analysis of horses for export, the importance of genetic analysis is undisputed. Matís offers such analyzes and more, and breeders have increasingly turned to Matís when it comes to breeding in breeding work and how best to pair together to achieve the desired result.
Matís and the Fisheries Research Institute before that, has been involved in development projects for over 10 years through teaching and guidance work at the United Nations University's School of Fisheries (UNU-FTP). This collaboration has led to further projects for Matís with seminars in developing countries.
From Tanganyika water | From Lake Tanganyika
Matís has held a total of eight courses in five countries, Vietnam (2005), Sri Lanka (2006), Kenya (2008 and 2013), Uganda (2011) and Tanzania (2012, 2014 and 2015). The courses have been one to two weeks long and tailored to the needs of the respective countries. In recent years, former UNU-FTP students have taken an active part in the preparation and implementation of the courses. This collaboration has been valuable to all parties and Matís has benefited from growing projects in developing countries.
Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania
In 2010, the Tanzanian government advertised for consultants to design research vessels, tender for the vessel, conduct an examination of the social status of fishing communities on Lake Tanganyika, and provide advice on improving the handling and processing of fish caught in the lake. Matís applied to take on the project in collaboration with Jóhann Indriðason's Engineering Office, Ráðgarður skipráðgjöf and the engineering office GOCH in Tanzania, and the offer was accepted. Matís took on project management in addition to providing advice on improved handling and processing of fish. Margeir Gissurarson managed the project on behalf of Matís, but he has extensive experience in development projects and has also lived in Mozambique for six years. The project area was fishing communities in Tanzania adjacent to Lake Tanganyika, where in most communities there is electricity or running water and the working environment is different from what Icelanders are used to. This area is one of the poorest in Tanzania and therefore a strength for Matís to be able to offer an employee who has lived in developing countries for many years and knows similar conditions.
Drying of fish and other seafood in difficult conditions
The main processing methods for fish at Lake Tanganyika are smoking and drying. The drying is done by spreading fish on the ground and letting the sun dry it. Birds and insects are in fierce competition with humans for food that lies exposed on the ground and during rainy seasons the fish are washed away and / or damaged due to excessive wetness. It is estimated that about 30% of the catch from the water will be lost, or between 10 and 20 thousand tonnes. Smoking fish is practiced over an open fire, so the fish is roasted rather than smoked. The treatment is usually performed by women who stand in a smokehouse every day and the result is eye pain and difficulty breathing. Matís' challenge was therefore not only to solve technical processing issues but also to improve the health of the inhabitants of the area.
Dryer in use
The result of the project was a processing unit that could both dry and smoke fish in a closed environment. Wood consumption in the new unit is only about 20% of what is used in traditional smoking and discounts on fish are negligible. The new processing unit was well received and it was requested that Matís assist in spreading the message. The project was then completed and it was no longer possible to work on it at the moment. The year 2014 was advertised for projects by the Nordic Climate Facility, a fund under the Nordic Development Fund. Matís applied for a grant to renovate the smoke and drying unit from a previous project and build 100 units that are distributed would be to fishing communities in Tanzania by Lake Tanganyika. This grant was received and is currently being worked on in collaboration with UNU-FTP and the Tanzania Fish Research Institute (TAFIRI). The aim of the project is to reduce the use of wood in smoking fish by 80% and to improve the performance of the fishing communities. In Tanzania, about 450 thousand cubic meters of wood are used per year to smoke fish, so it can be estimated that if Matís' processing unit goes into general use in that country, it will be possible to reduce wood use by 350 thousand cubic meters per year.
Use of geothermal energy in food production
Matís has also been involved in development projects regarding the use of geothermal energy in food production. In 2014, two Matís employees went to Kenya and Rwanda for two weeks to carry out a feasibility study on the use of low temperatures in food processing. Kenya has considerable geothermal energy, but Rwanda has not yet found energy sources, although there are hot springs in several places that could be used for food processing.
Matís in the Caribbean In 2015, Matís undertook a project in the Caribbean regarding its assessment how countries within CARIFORUM countries meet international food safety requirements, with an emphasis on wild fish and aquaculture. The main goal of the project was to present a roadmap or proposals for what the countries can do together and individually to ensure access to important market countries such as Europe and the United States. Eight countries were visited, where conditions and monitoring were examined and the results presented to the authorities and stakeholders. Final proposals were submitted in October 2015.
In recent years, Matís' projects in developing countries have increased in number, and with each project, the company's reputation as a reliable and professional consultant in developing countries has grown.
In recent days, there has been a great deal of discussion about the integrity of the seafood trade. The beginning of the discussion can be traced to a seminar that Matís held on Wednesday 16 March, where the results of an international study in which Matís participates were presented.
The study covers species analyzes of fish, whether fish species, cf. the results of genetic research, is in line with what is stated, and there are over 40 parties involved across Europe. The study is not part of the food control of the countries where the research takes place, but is about gathering information and assessing the status of these issues in different European countries.
In the Icelandic part of the study, which has not been completed, it was stated, among other things, that about 30% of all samples taken at restaurants contained fish other than what was stated on the menu, as has been stated in Matís news.
It is of great interest that integrity be exercised in the trade of food, whether it is fish or other foods. It is in the interests of producers, retailers, consumers and not least the countries competing for market share in international markets.
Icelanders base their profits largely on the export of fish and fish products, and at the same time as we point out the purity and wholesomeness of our fish species, cheaper and more unhealthy species are put on our heads, but under a false flag. One of these examples is when cheap whitefish is sold as cod from the North Atlantic. The price difference can be very large and lead to lower prices for cod and cod products. Marine Stewardship Council (MSC, www.msc.org/) has pointed out that the standard price for breaded pangasius is around four euros per kg when the price of cod can be around 25 euros per kg.
It is therefore clear that integrity with seafood is a major economic issue for all Icelanders and it is important to take the debate on species fraud seriously.
Consumer integrity and trust are one of the main challenges facing modern food trade, not least in the wake of scandals such as the so-called "horsemeat issue", but in recent years there have been a number of international cases where intermediaries and consumers are deceived in seafood trade. .
Examples of such deceptions are when cheap brands are sold as more expensive, frozen products are sold as fresh, substances are added to products to gain weight, change appearance, extend the life or hide the product without being mentioned in the description of ingredients, types in endangered species are sold under a false flag and so on.
Last Wednesday, Matís hosted a seminar on how genetic engineering can be used to ensure integrity in trade in aquaculture and aquaculture products. The seminar was divided into four parts, where each part began with a short introduction to a specific topic and then a general discussion. Presentations that accompanied the introduction of each section can be accessed below.
The seminar was well attended, with about fifty stakeholders from across the value chain of seafood attending the meeting and a very good discussion ensued. There was a consensus among the participants that this was a matter of great interest to Icelandic food producers.
30% samples taken by Matís employees at ten restaurants in Reykjavík showed that it was not the type of fish that had been ordered from the menu.
In a lecture Jónas R. Viðarsson, Matís's specialist director, stated that research on species miscelling in seafood trade in Europe and the United States shows that about a third of the fish sold is of a different species than stated on the packaging or menu. The problem varies by species and point of sale, as species such as tuna and snapper are at high risk of being replaced by other species without being informed. Atlantic cod is also high on the list. Species fraud seems to be particularly common in sushi restaurants and restaurants that sell breaded fish, such as fish & chips.
Matís is a participant in international research, FoodIntegrity, Authenticate and Authent-Net, where, among other things, samples are collected in Icelandic restaurants and subsequently genetic testing is performed to determine whether samples are in accordance with what is stated on the menu. Confirmation is always sought from the restaurant staff about the type of fish. The research projects are still ongoing, but of the 27 samples that have already been analyzed, eight were not in accordance with the menu.
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