The Rannís Technology Development Fund has now supported a collaborative project between Margildi, Matís, the University of Akureyri, Síldarvinnslan, Mjólkursamsälan and KPMG called Marlysi.
The aim of this project is to develop the best new processing method for fish oil for human consumption from the pelagic species capelin, herring and mackerel. Margildi is a start-up company that has developed a new and unique processing method, so-called rapid cold cleaning, which makes it possible to fully clean fish oil from the aforementioned pelagic species. Until now, it has not been possible to cold-clean the aforementioned fish oil for human consumption efficiently and cost-effectively due to the large amount of saturated and long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids. Margildi has already applied for a patent for the rapid cold cleaning technology.
Processing methods for fish oil will be developed that make it suitable for use as a food supplement in capsules or bottles, but also as an additive in food. But the fish oil from Margildur is coming out very well as an additive in food due to the natural stability of the fish oil.
Raw fish oil from capelin, herring and mackerel, which is processed in fishmeal and fish oil factories, is today only sold as an additive in animal feed alongside fishmeal. There is good knowledge of the production of raw fish oil in Iceland in fishmeal and fish oil factories and they are well equipped. Five of the eleven factories have received food certification from the Food Administration (MAST) for their operations in part or in full, and more are moving in the same direction. Food certification is one of the basic preconditions for producing fish oil from pelagic fish for human consumption. Both fisheries companies in this project, ie. Síldarvinnslan and HB Grandi, have food-certified factories and will continue to work with products from them.
In January this year, the town council of Fjarðabyggð approved the signing of a declaration of intent with Margildur, expressing goodwill and support for the company's possible factory in the municipality. We are grateful for the support and interest, which we have found in many places, but it has been very great from Fjarðabyggð, as this declaration of intent implies, "says Snorri Hreggviðsson, CEO of Margildi.
If this project is successful, the conditions will be created to build and operate a specialized fish factory in Iceland based on the results of the project. With the introduction of the Marlys factory, more profitable foundations will be laid for the fishmeal and fish oil industry, and it can develop in part from the production of raw materials for feed production to the production of finished products for human consumption.
For further information Valur N. Gunnlaugsson at Matís.