Category: News

The co-operation project between the Icelandic and German governments on increasing food safety has now been completed. Food safety is a key prerequisite for food producers to be able to sell their products and participate in international trade.

Consumers, both domestic and foreign, must be able to trust that food is safe and that the government has the capacity to monitor food safety in accordance with international standards and regulations.

The bilateral project between Germany and Iceland, Safe Foods, which has contributed to increased food security in Iceland, has now been completed, but the main participants in the project were Matís, Matvælastofnun (MAST), the Ministry of Industry and Innovation, the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES) in Germany.

"Our goal was to build up the administration and improve research facilities in Iceland so that all the necessary infrastructure is in place to ensure food safety in the Icelandic market. This is done to protect the health and interests of consumers in ever-expanding markets in times of increasing globalization, "said Professor Dr. dr. Andreas Hensel, President of BfR, and Professor dr. Eberhard Haunhorst, President of LAVES, at a meeting with Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, on 25 June 2014. “The Safe Food co-operation project has significantly strengthened Iceland's research capacity, which will enable us to work in accordance with European standards and regulations. This work will facilitate the export of Icelandic food on the international market. "Said Sveinn Margeirsson, CEO of Matís. "Thanks to close co-operation between the Icelandic authorities and German partners, public regulators have increased their knowledge of legislation, administration and procedures for official food control, so that we are now better equipped to ensure the interests of consumers with regard to food safety", added the director of the Food Administration. Jón Gíslason with.

The main priorities of the project were to improve the analysis of pesticide residues and other contaminants in food, such as PCBs, as well as the analysis of genetic changes in food and feed. Another important factor was the introduction of chemical analysis methods to measure algae in shellfish. To achieve these goals, first-class research equipment was purchased and installed in Matís' laboratory, as well as the staff concerned were trained in the use of the equipment and the implementation of official diagnostic methods according to European standards. Matvælastofnun and the municipal health inspectorate also received training in sampling, monitoring and interpretation of legislation in these areas. A total of 24 experts from German partner organizations came to Iceland to provide this training, in addition to which Icelandic experts will pay an introductory visit to Germany.

The project is considered to have been very successful and there is talk of a possible continuation of the co-operation that has been established between Icelandic and German institutions in the field of food safety.

For further information Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir, director of Matís. 

Icelanders have established a good reputation when it comes to the utilization of seafood and innovation in the fisheries sector. Matís and its partners have supported this development well through research and innovation. 

Iceland's success in this field has attracted deserved attention and foreign parties have realized that this is where unique knowledge and experience in the fisheries sector can be found. The Norwegian Minister of Fisheries Elisabeth Aspaker visited Matís today to learn about the company's operations and get answers to the question "Why are Icelanders so diligent in producing and selling high quality products made from white and pelagic fish?"
The question is fully justified because the difference between Iceland and Norway's catch utilization is significant. In Iceland, for example, 570 kg of products are obtained from 1 tonne of cod, but the same amount yields only 410 kg of products to Norway. The difference is 16% or 160 kg per tonne, which means that the Norwegian value added from their total catch in the Barents Sea in 2013 could amount to just over NOK 1 billion or ISK 21 billion if they adopted Icelandic methods.¹ 
In fact, fisheries ministers on both sides of the Atlantic have made their way to Matís in recent days, as a week ago Keith Hutchings, Newfoundland's Minister of Fisheries, also visited Matís. Increased cod fishing outside Newfoundland creates new opportunities for the fishing industry. In addition, he showed great interest in the role of Matís as a bridge between universities and the business community, and believed that this collaboration would strengthen the industry.

In Iceland you can find enormous resources in unspoiled and unpolluted nature that can be used for food production. The Artic Bioeconomy project, for example, worked with kelp in mayonnaise, chocolate and pasta. Berries, wild herbs, kale, carrots, rhubarb, mushrooms and birch are the mainstays of innovative foods as well as giving well-known products a new flavor.

Innovation in the food industry, where underutilized resources come into play, has been the main theme of the Artic Bioeconomy project, which ends in November. The project is part of the Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Matís is leading the project, which has now launched more than 30 ideas, and new products will be presented on 25 June at a conference on the bioeconomy that will take place in Selfoss. The products are developed by small producers and individuals in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

Matís has been at the forefront of those who want to take new paths in food production, and Matís' food makers have played a particularly important role in this. In addition, the company's research into bioactive substances and the enrichment of seafood has increased knowledge of how to increase the health of the food we consume. At the same time as it is important to find and utilize new resources, it is also necessary to consider whether it is possible to utilize products that are most often discarded for food production. For this purpose, for example, they worked with mutton, ribs from beef, whey and rock crab.

Beach monkeys, crab and whey

An example of new products that will be on display is Strandaber, which is a new product line that uses the main blueberry picked in Strandasýsla. Berries are pressed and used in juice and the speed is used as a raw material for boost or dried as an intermediate. No preservatives, colors or sweeteners are used. Research has shown that Icelandic blueberries contain more antioxidants than imported berries.

Another exciting food that Icelanders have not become accustomed to using is crab. Now hopefully that will change. The product in question is crab meat that has been cooked and frozen, it is mainly intended for restaurants, but the meat can be used in crab salad, crab cakes or crab burgers.

Mysuklaki with berries and herbs is also a new product that will be introduced at the conference, but its preparation is based on Icelandic tradition. The whey used is an extra product of skyr production. Mysan was the main soft drink for Icelanders in earlier centuries, but it has been reduced to new soft drinks, but in this project it is used in refreshing ice for children and adults.

You can still register for the conference.

Ocean Sampling Day (OSD) is a world event in which scientists collect samples from the ocean at the summer solstice on June 21st. These samplings will help scientists and the general public better understand how the world's oceans work and the complex ecosystems that exist there.

No fewer than 167 locations are now confirmed as sampling will take place simultaneously next week. Here you can see a list of places where participation is confirmed but samples will be taken in several places in the sea around Iceland.

More information can be found at OSD website and on blog OSD. At Matís provides Viggó Marteinsson also further information on the implementation of measurements in this country.

30 new foods will be presented at the Nordtic conference in Selfoss. The Nordic Bioeconomy, which is part of the Icelandic Government's three-year chairmanship of the Nordic Council of Ministers, will be discussed. Innovation in the field of food production is one of the challenges of the project.

A conference on the Nordic bioeconomy will be held in Selfoss on 25 June, with the aim of finding ways to fully utilize products without depleting resources, thus reducing waste, increasing value creation and encouraging innovation.

 The results of food innovation will be presented at the conference, but earlier this year there was an advertisement for interested parties to take part in product development projects both in Iceland and in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The aim was to develop new foods or food-related products. Innovative projects of this kind strengthen regional economic growth and increase sustainability in food production.

Examples of foods that were developed in the project and can be tasted at the conference include: Ice cream from skyrmys, hand-picked Icelandic berries and wild herbs, Carrot flakes, Heilsumæjónes with omega-3 and Arctic char on feed produced with mold proteins . A total of about 30 products will be introduced from Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. 

The bioeconomy is Matís' concern, as many of the company's projects revolve around its protection and welfare. Next November, the Arctic Bioeconom project will be completed, which has mostly focused on food production innovation and thus food security in the Arctic, but together with Iceland, food production in the Faroe Islands and Greenland as well as the northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland was mainly considered. Sigrún Elsa Smáradóttir, Director of Business Development, is the project manager of the project. 

You can still sign up Nordtic Conference.

The program will be as follows:

• 09:15 Coffee and registration
• 10:00 Opening the conference | Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture
• 10:15 No standard = no market | Dr. dr. Andreas Hensel, President at BfR
• 11:00 Product development in the Arctic Bioeconomy | Sigrún Elsa Smáradóttir, Research group leader, Matís
• 11:30 Industry success stories:

1. Janus Vang, Director, iNOVA and Leif Sörensen, Chef. Faroe Islands
2. Kim Lyberth, Inuili school, Greenland
3. Ingunn Jónsdóttir, Regional Manager Matís and Valdís Magnúsdóttir, farmer and local food producer, Iceland   

• 12:00 Lunch | Special taste of innovation
• 13:30 Branding of Nordic food | Emil Bruun Blauert, CEO, Executive Advisor and Developer, WNEAT
• 13:50 Microfeed: Turning wood into food | Clas Engström, Managing Director, SP
• 14:10 Nutrition for the future - Possibilities of the Nordic areas? | Bryndís Eva Birgisdóttir, Associate Professor, University of Iceland
• 14:30 Coffee break
• 14:50 Food waste: Problem or growth opportunity? | Nils Kristian Afseth, Research Scientist, PhD, Nofima       
• 15:10 Investing in algae - Ingredients for future food production | Olavur Gregersen, Managing Director, Syntesa Partners & Associates               
• 15:30 Assessing and mitigating risk in the Nordic Bioeconomy | Guðmundur Halldórsson, Research Coordinator, Soil Conservation Service of Iceland
• 15:45 Reflection panel | Nordic and Arctic bioeconomy in local & global perspective:

1. Julian Roberts - COMSEC
2. Prof. Dr. Eberhard Haunhorst, President of Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety
3. Alda Agnes Gylfadóttir, Managing director, Einhamar Seafood
4. Sigurður Björnsson, Head of Research and Innovation, RANNÍS
5. Ásmundur Guðjónsson, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Fisheries Faroe Islands

• 16:30 End of conference

Conference facilitator: Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, Chairman of the Federation of Iceland Industries.

The conference will be held in English.

The inaugural meeting of the Icelandic case study in the MareFrame project is now a new one, but it took place on Tuesday 10 June. Matís participates in the project in collaboration with the University of Iceland and the Marine Research Institute. The European project MareFrame aims to develop a multi-stock fisheries management system based on the Icelandic model.

Dr. Anna Kristín Daníelsdóttir, division manager at Matís, is the project manager for the Icelandic part of MareFrame. She says the meeting was successful and well attended.

 "The aim was to obtain the views of stakeholders on the development and formulation of the Icelandic case study on the Icelandic multi-stock fisheries management system. The MareFrame project places great emphasis on good co-operation with fishermen, fishing companies and processing companies, as well as other stakeholders involved in fisheries management, which is a key factor in the implementation of a multi-stock fisheries management system. "

 "Representatives from the main stakeholders attended the meeting, such as the National Association of Icelandic Fishermen, the National Association of Small Boat Owners, the Association of Fish Processing Plants, MSC, the Directorate of Fisheries and the Ministry of Industry and Innovation."

More collaborative meetings are planned in the project, as the emphasis is on environmentally friendly, sustainable, social and economic management. In addition, it is based on what has been done well in Icelandic fisheries management, including the use of the multi-stock model "Gadget", which was developed by Icelandic participants in the project and is widely used abroad.

The MareFrame project involves a total of 28 institutions, companies and universities in 10 European countries (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Poland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Romania, Norway and Iceland) as well as South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. 

According to an article on www.visir.is There has been an increase in population in the south of the Westfjords in the last two years in connection with increased aquaculture in the area. Matís has been involved in this, but innovation and research in the field of aquaculture as well as support for business development in the countryside has been a common thread in the company's operations since its establishment.

The article states that the population in the southern western fjords has increased by 5% from 2012 - 2014, but population growth has been negative in the area in recent years. In 2012, 1,186 people lived in the area, but the number has now increased by 60 and today there are 1,246 individuals living in Vesturbyggð and Tálknafjörður. By comparison, in 2000, 1,596 people lived in the area. The reason for the increase in population is due to job creation in connection with aquaculture, which has been on the rise in recent years and is expected to continue.

In 2012, Matís opened an office in Patreksfjörður, which serves the south of the Westfjords and the Breiðafjörður area, where the road to aquaculture has steadily increased in recent years. The goal of Matís' offices is to serve the local community and support research and development in the field of food in the local area. In Patreksfjörður, emphasis is placed on research related to aquaculture and the intention is to contribute to the progress and development of aquaculture throughout the country.

In recent years, research has mainly focused on improving the profitability, growth and quality of farmed fish, as well as increasing efficiency in production and reducing feed costs, which is one of the largest expenditure items. The research thus contributes to an increase in value and makes it easier for companies and individuals to start production of some kind.

In the southern part of the Westfjords, there is a long tradition of fishing and fish processing, but in recent years there has been a certain decline in that profession. However, the area is suitable for aquaculture in the opinion of many and has undoubtedly contributed to the great development that has already taken place, especially in the farming of salmon, char and rainbow trout as well as mussels. The aim is for products in the area to receive sustainable certification, as they are processed in a sustainable manner and the bioeconomy as a whole is included in the picture at all stages of production.  

Matís places great emphasis on ensuring that value added goes hand in hand with the well-being of the bioeconomy. Therefore, better utilization of feed and products not only results in more money but also a more valuable and environmentally friendly product that is spun from a sustainable environment. This contributes to increased food security for the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbVMoQ9rnq0&list=PLZGs8XSSa2cJ624eO8Fzj29ns-B8bs7sl

More about all Matís offices.

Welcome to the Nordic Environmental Chemistry Conference - NECC (Nordic Environmental Chemistry Conference) 2014 which will be held in Reykjavík from 11-13. June 2014.

The topic of the conference is environmental chemistry in the Nordic countries as well as internationally, but environmental chemistry is an interdisciplinary field of research that transcends geographical boundaries and therefore requires international discussion. The conference is therefore looking for topics that cover, among other things, environmental toxicology and the effects of substances on organisms, the accumulation of substances in organisms, the transport of substances in the environment and their transformation process, modeling, green chemistry as well as monitoring and regulations.

More information can be found at the website of the Environment Agency, in the conference bulletin and at Hrönn Ólína Jörundsdóttir at Matís.

Bifröst University, among other things in collaboration with Matís, intends to meet the demands of the business community throughout the country, which is increasingly interested in increasing innovation and development in the field of food production. Bifröst University will offer studies in food management from the autumn of 2014.

Emphasis is placed on the entire value chain from primary production to sale to the final consumer. The study is 180 ECTS and ends with a BS degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on food management and it will be possible to pursue it in distance learning and on-site study or a combination of the two.

In addition, specialization will be offered in the form of term projects (12 ECTS) and a final thesis (14 ECTS). The study will be in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Iceland and the teaching will be in collaboration with Matís.

Undergraduate business studies at Bifröst University are comprehensive business studies designed to prepare students for positions of responsibility, leadership and management in business and society. The program consists of general business disciplines such as finance, accounting, management and marketing. Students can spend one semester on an exchange program at a foreign partner university.

Specialization is provided in the following courses:

• Nutrition - 6 ECTS
• Food microbiology - 6 ECTS
• Food processing - 6 ECTS
• Food legislation and quality issues - 6 ECTS
• Information technology in the food industry - 6 ECTS
• Production Technology - 6 ECTS
• Transport technology and logistics - 6 ECTS

For further information, please contact Sigurður Ragnarsson, Head of the School of Business at Birfröst University Sveinn Margeirsson, CEO of Matís. In addition, there is even more interesting information on Bifröst University's website, www.bifrost.is. 

^{News based on a news item about the program that was published on the Bifröst University website on 6 June.}

On June 25, a conference will be held at Hotel Selfoss where the Nordic Bioeconomy and the Arctic Bioeconomy will be discussed.

The bioeconomy

The term bioeconomy has been used to cover all life resources, their interplay and context and their impact on economic, environmental and social factors. Bioeconomic research thus transcends industries and seeks to maximize the benefits of resources without compromising them. An important part of Matís' operations is to strengthen and increase value creation in the bioeconomy, among other things through projects aimed at increasing biomass production and by fostering innovation, working to improve utilization and sustainability in production processes and thereby more efficient productive resources. Matís' staff therefore welcomes the Nordic emphasis on the bioeconomy and work closely with the Icelandic government on the implementation of three-year presidency projects in this area, which began this year when Iceland took over the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

On this occasion, a conference will be held in Iceland on June 25, where these issues will be discussed from various perspectives.

On the website of the Guest Reception / Yourhost you can sign up for the conference.

Innovation in the Nordic and Arctic bioeconomy

Innovation in the Nordic and Arctic Bioeconomy

• 09:15 Coffee and registration
• 10:00 Opening the conference | Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture
• 10:15 No standard = no market | Dr. dr. Andreas Hensel, President at BfR                 
• 11:00 Product development in the Arctic Bioeconomy | Sigrún Elsa Smáradóttir, Research group  
             leader, Matís                        
• 11:30 Industry success stories:
             Janus Vang, Director, iNOVA and Leif Sörensen, Chef. Faroe Islands
             Kim Lyberth, Inuili school, Greenland
             Ingunn Jónsdóttir, Regional Manager Matís and Valdís Magnúsdóttir, farmer and local food   
             producer Iceland   
• 12:00 Lunch | Special taste of innovation
• 13:30 Branding of Nordic food | Emil Bruun Blauert, CEO, Executive Advisor and Developer, WNEAT
• 13:50 Microfeed: Turning wood into food | Clas Engström, Managing Director, SP Processum          
• 14:10 Nutrition for the future - Possibilities of the Nordic areas? | Bryndís Eva Birgisdóttir, Associate
             professor, University of Iceland
• 14:30 Coffee break             
• 14:50 Food waste: Problem or growth opportunity? | Nils Kristian Afseth, Research Scientist, PhD,
             Nofima      
• 15:10 Investing in algae - Ingredients for future food production | Olavur Gregersen, Managing
             Director, Syntesa Partners & Associates               
• 15:30 Assessing and mitigating risk in the Nordic Bioeconomy | Guðmundur Halldórsson, Research
             Coordinator, Soil Conservation Service of Iceland
• 15:45 Reflection panel | Nordic and Arctic bioeconomy in local & global perspective:
             Julian Roberts - COMSEC
             Prof. Dr. Eberhard Haunhorst, President of Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer   
             Protection and Food Safety
             Alda Agnes Gylfadóttir, Managing director, Einhamar Seafood
             Steinar Bergseth, Coordinator MBTera
             Ásmundur Guðjónsson, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Fisheries Faroe Islands
• 16:30 End of conference

Conference facilitator:

Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, Chairman of the Federation of Iceland Industries

More about the Arctic bioeconomy

One of the projects that Matís has led the way is the Nordic project Arctic Bioeconomy, and Sigrún Elsa Smáradóttir, Director of Business Development, is the project manager of the project. The project is for two years and includes mapping of life resources in the Arctic, assessment of their yield, and comparison and analysis between regions. The focus is on Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, but almost on living resources in the northern part of Norway, Sweden and Finland. "The project pays special attention to food production with regard to food security, in addition to which the innovation capacity of the areas and individual industries will be assessed. This is done so that it is possible to assess opportunities and threats and subsequently launch projects that strengthen the areas in this field, "says Sigrún Elsa, but the project is expected to be completed in November 2014.

"There are many living resources in the Arctic and they are important for the countries' economies, both directly and indirectly. Here in Iceland, the fisheries sector is one of the main basic industries and data on the state of the fisheries sector are in very good shape, but data relating to other resources, such as land use, are inferior. It is important to compile an overview of resources and their results so that the results can be assessed and how the areas can be strengthened. By increasing the value of products, stimulating and strengthening the bioeconomy and its capacity, we increase economic success, "says Sigrún Elsa, adding that the living resources of this area are changing due to global warming. "It is necessary to monitor these changes closely. It is important to take advantage of the potential that opens up for food production in this area due to changed living conditions and environmental impact. The unfortunate fact is that while opportunities in this field in the Arctic may increase, they will shrink elsewhere at the same time as the world's population growth continues ".

^{Sigrún Elsa Smáradóttir}

The project aims to strengthen the countries' active participation in international co-operation projects, including at the Nordic level. "When it comes to research programs and support for innovation, it is clear that great emphasis will be placed on the bioeconomy, both in a Nordic and European context," says Sigrún Elsa.

For example, the Nordic Committee for Agricultural and Food Research (NKJ) has developed a strategy for the "Nordic Bioeconomy Initiative". This strategy pays special attention to the sustainability of natural resources and the use of biomass in a similar way as other nations at European level have done. The committee consists of three Icelanders, Torfi Jóhannesson, an expert at the Ministry of Industry and Innovation, Sveinn Margeirsson, CEO of Matís and Sigurður Björnsson, division manager at Rannís. The strategy should, first and foremost, improve and facilitate Nordic co-operation projects aimed at research into the bioeconomy and promote further policy-making in this area. Thus, the intention is to promote sustainable resource utilization in basic production and derivative industries.

"The intention is to strengthen the co-operation of processing industries, such as food production or feed and fertilizer production, with basic industries, such as fisheries and agriculture, and work towards comprehensive solutions that transcend industries and maximize the benefits of utilizing the resources without compromising them. . Sustainable production and utilization of biomass contributes to the economic and social strengthening of the areas adjacent to the resources, increased food production and thus increased food security. It also looks at environmentally friendly production of energy sources from biomass to replace fossil fuels, but then it is important that ways are found so that such production does not come at the expense of food production. High competition for raw materials, on the one hand for food production and on the other hand for energy production, can have serious consequences for food prices and the ability of people in the world to feed themselves, "says Sigrún Elsa.

Icelandic presidency project

The Nordic countries take turns chairing the Nordic Council of Ministers and leading the activities for one year at a time. This year, it will be up to Icelanders to chair the Council, and at the same time a three-year presidency program will be launched in the field of bioeconomy that will bring direct economic benefits to the Nordic countries. The implementation of chairmanship projects in the field of the bioeconomy is now being completed, but Matís has been an active participant in that implementation under the leadership of Sveinn Margeirsson, Matís' CEO.

"The presidency projects will call for increased collaboration between industry and research and educational institutions in practical value-added projects. The focus will be on how to promote knowledge creation and development in sustainable resource utilization and biomass production in the Nordic countries, and to transfer existing knowledge and technological solutions between regions, "says Sigrún Elsa.

In connection with the chairmanship project, a panel committee, the Nordic Bioeconomy panel, will be formed, which will advise the Nordic Research Fund when it comes to research calls in the field of bioeconomy. In addition, the committee's role must be to promote the position of the Nordic countries abroad when it comes to the bioeconomy, thus facilitating the countries' access to international research grants.

"The fact that Iceland plays a leading role in such co - operation, takes the lead in an ambitious presidency plan in the field of the bioeconomy and plays a leading role in related research in the Arctic, directs the eyes of others to the country as an interesting partner in bioeconomy projects. Broad multinational co-operation in this field, both in research and development, is an important basis for strengthening the bioeconomy and thus economic progress in Iceland, "concludes Sigrún Elsa.

For further information Sigrún Elsa. You can also watch Matís' video the big challenges á Matís video page.