Feeding the population of Canada every day

That’s enough to satisfy the hunger of a population the size of Canada, or to feed a country the size of Belgium three times over.

Last year, Norway’s fishing and aquaculture companies exported 2.7 billion tonnes of seafood, generating a new record of 99 billion NOK ($11 billion).

Now, the country is aiming to make its seafood industry as sustainable as possible.

Fish farming in the fjords

Norway is famous for its Atlantic salmon, and it’s easy to see why.

This fish, packed with flavour and with a distinctive bright orange hue, is highly‑prized by consumers across the globe.

In 2017, the country’s fish farmers exported more than 1,200,000 tonnes of salmon worldwide.

This is not just good for business; the fish are also a healthy source of protein, and could play an important role in feeding the world’s growing population in future.

This could even have an impact on climate change, as farmed fish have a lower environmental impact compared to other protein sources such as red meat and chicken.

Norway produces 37 million seafood meals a day – that’s 25,700 healthy meals per minute. Photo © NCE Maritime CleanTech.

Overcoming challenges

Nevertheless, Norway’s aqua farming companies are faced with a number of challenges.

They will need to provide more food to the world, in a more sustainable way, all while remaining profitable and competitive.

How are they doing this? The answer involves a relentless pursuit of innovation. Up and down the country, start-ups and large companies are working together to push the boundaries of science.

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This includes CO2Bio, who are using waste CO₂ to grow algae. This algae can then be used to make a more sustainable form of fish feed.

Then there’s the company SeaSmart, who are using an underwater drone to provide better data to aqua farmers.

Lastly, Aquabyte is developing software that will one day allow fish farms to run themselves.

Plucky start-ups such as this are making it possible for Norwegian seafood to feed an even greater portion of the world’s population.

Svein M Nordvik is the CEO at CO2Bio, a company that uses waste carbon dioxide to product sustainable fish feed.

Powered by teamwork

All of this seafood innovation is being supported by a range of strong local institutions.   

This is particularly true in the Bergen region, where players such as VIS and NCE Seafood Innovation are laying the foundations for blue growth.

These organizations provide guidance and mentorship for young companies, as well as helping them to secure vital funding.

Tor Ole, Head of Venture and Legal at VIS, explains: “We are seeing more and more investors coming to Bergen to find out more about the technologies that are being developed here.”

These investors are right to be interested in new Norwegian technologies.

These advancements could yet be the key to feeding the world’s rising population, as well as mitigating our worsening climate crisis.

Find out more about Greater Bergen’s aquaculture industry

Are you interested in setting up a new company in the Greater Bergen region? If so, you could receive crucial support from Invest in Bergen.

Our organization can provide information, introductions to useful contacts, and even help you to find your ideal business location in Greater Bergen. If you’re interested in these services, simply get in touch with us today.