The guests of the Matvælið podcast this time are Björn Þór Aðalsteinsson, project manager at Matís and Tryggvi Stefánsson, assistant manager at Algalíf. In the episode, they review marketing and research considerations in relation to genetic modification of microbes.
Björn Þór tells us about the Thermo-Tools project that Matís' biotechnology group has been working on for the past few years. The Thermo Tools project aims to develop new tools to genetically modify thermophilic microbes. Iceland has the unique feature of having a large amount of hot springs and, as a result, very good access to heat-loving microbes. Thermophilic microbes live at very high temperatures, ranging from 50-121°C, and the problem lies in the fact that the devices and tools normally used for genetic modification do not work at such high temperatures.
Tryggvi Stefánsson from Algalíf tells us about their production of Astaxanthin and how the market in which Algalíf operates sets a clear policy against genetic modification and the importance of having non-GMO certification in their production.
Horsemeat is a limited resource and a high quality product. Are there opportunities in product development and marketing that are not being exploited?
In this episode we hear from Eva Margrét Jónudóttir who is a specialist at Matís, but she has done various research on horsemeat. Among other things, Eva has researched the attitudes and buying behavior of Icelandic consumers and researched meat quality in foal meat. Eva talks pleasantly about the results of that research and it is extremely interesting to hear her report on the results of the quality and shelf life of horsemeat.
Innovation with added value, food security, public health and sustainability in the forefront is Matís' main subject, and a diverse perspective on these aspects will be the topic of discussion in new radio programs entitled Matvælið - Hlaðvarp Matís on research and innovation in food production.
Matís works on a variety of projects in the food industry, with an emphasis on these aspects. The projects are carried out in collaboration with domestic food producers and entrepreneurs, universities and all those who are involved in the food industry in some way. In order for people and companies to be able to use Matís' services and operations to their advantage, it is necessary to disseminate information about the company's operations in various ways so that they reach both the eyes and ears of the country.
Matís' website and social media are already used for this purpose, but broadcasting is the newest medium that has been used so that people can get to know the topics that Matís deals with at any given time in a simple and convenient way.
The programs will discuss with project managers and staff about their projects or related issues, but also with various partners, such as from the world of entrepreneurship, the food industry, the business community and from the country's universities. The policy is to shed light on the profession and the people rather than on the company as such.
The first episode of the broadcast discusses, for example, Birgi Örn Smárason, project manager at Matís and Búi Bjarmar Aðalsteinsson, who has a background from the Academy of the Arts, product development, food production and various entrepreneurial activities. They have different approaches to the subject of the show, which is the protein donations of the future and sustainable food production, and therefore discussions are created about various angles on the subject.
The episodes will be released once a month, but at the beginning there will be a short introductory episode entitled; What is Matís? and Hákon Stefánsson, Matís' chairman of the board, is there for answers. Matís' mediation team is in charge of the production of the episodes and Ísey Dísa Hávarsdóttir is in charge of the episode management.
What is Matís? Who does it work for? How can I use Matís' service?
In this introductory episode of Matvælin, Matís' broadcast on research and innovation in food production, Hákon Stefánsson, Chairman of the Board, answers these questions and more.
Will insects be the main source of protein of the future? Or algae? Or protein made from trees?
Birgir Örn Smárason and Búi Bjarmar Aðalsteinsson consider various issues related to the protein donations of the future and sustainable food production. Non-traditional protein donations are their profession and they tell experiences of the regulatory framework, research and production in this context.
