Contact
Valur Norðri Gunnlaugsson
Research Group Leader
valur.n.gunnlaugsson@matis.is
One of the visions of Nordic cooperation is that the Nordic countries will be the most sustainable region in the world by 2030. Considering the importance of sea-related activities in the Nordic countries, all ways to increase sustainability within the blue economy must be explored. There is also the big challenge of how we are going to improve the world and increase food security in line with the increase in population in the coming years, without depleting the earth's resources and contributing to climate change?
Eating foods from lower levels of the food chain can help reduce the carbon footprint of food production and even help preserve ecosystems. This means that while feeding the world's population, we are also making a positive contribution to the fight against climate change and halting the loss of biodiversity, ultimately contributing to improved ocean health. Food species of lower levels have little environmental impact and may even provide environmental benefits, examples of such species are various types of seaweed, shellfish such as kelp and oysters, grazing species such as sea urchins and sea otter, as well as some species of freshwater fish. These species can be caught or farmed in the sea or on land. When comparing the climate impact of these species to other types of food, it has been found that these species generally have a much lower carbon footprint than other food production systems and other types of food.
In this project, the intention is to map what is being cultivated and caught of these species in the Nordic countries and to examine where hunting and cultivation could be increased in relation to the needs of the markets.