Cargill has joined forces with the Bellona Foundation, the Norwegian Seafood Federation and six other major players in the fish feed industry to improve the climate footprint of Norwegian salmon. The initiative «Råvareløftet» seeks to accelerate the development of new raw materials for fish feed. The aim is to contribute to major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, while generating employment and furthering the development of the aquaculture industry.
Joint press release by the Bellona Foundation and the Norwegian Seafood Federation 11. December 2020.
The Bellona Foundation, the Norwegian Seafood Federation and seven major players in the fish feed industry have joined forces to improve the climate footprint of Norwegian salmon. The initiative «Råvareløftet» seeks to accelerate the development of new raw materials for fish feed. The aim is to contribute to major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, while generating employment and furthering the development of the aquaculture industry.
The aquaculture industry plays an important role in Norway’s green transition. Feed alone accounts for approximately ¾ of greenhouse gas emissions of Norwegian farmed salmon – when airfreight to distant markets is omitted. The key challenge for the fish feed industry towards 2030 will be to deliver a stable supply of sufficient volumes of nutritionally adequate raw materials, while ensuring greenhouse gas emission reductions and increased sustainability. For this reason the Bellona Foundation, the Norwegian Seafood Federation, Aker Biomarine, BioMar, Calanus, Cargill, Hordafor, Skretting and Mowi now launch the collaboration platform «Råvareløftet».
– We believe that Norwegian production of new raw materials for fish feed may be the start of a new green industrial opportunity. It is therefore very exciting to be able to draw on the collective expertise of the industry in finding new and sustainable solutions, says Joakim Hauge, Manager for The Bellona Bio-programme and project responsible for Råvareløftet. – The feed issue cannot be solved by individual actors alone, but will require coordination between industry, government, science and stakeholders in the fields of environment and sustainability, he adds.
– The Norwegian seafood industry has an important societal mission to produce sustainable and healthy food for a growing world population. We take this seriously and with Råvareløftet we are now taking an important step into an even greener future, says Geir Ove Ystmark, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Federation. – In Norway, 250,000 new jobs are needed by 2030 if we are to secure the welfare state. We will do our part to ensure that these jobs are created as part of the ongoing sustainability transition in the ocean industries.
– Råvareløftet is a very exciting partnership that may provide climate benefits, business opportunities and job creation. It would be a win-win situation for Norway if we could replace the large volumes of imported soy with alternative feed raw materials based on Norwegian resources. This spring, as part of economic coronavirus measures, we allocated an additional 20 million NOK to research into the development of fish feed based on Norwegian raw material sources. However, we are also dependent the private sectors’ willingness to invest. I am therefore very pleased with the initiative industry and The Bellona Foundation are showcasing with Råvareløftet, comments Minister of Fisheries and Seafood Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen.
All partners will contribute expertise, data and resources to Råvareløftet. The Bellona Foundation will assist industry in identifying new solutions and opportunities, and ensure that private sector, politics and the policy landscape are in alignment. In its strategic vision, “Sustainable Aquaculture 2030”, the Bellona Foundation has pointed out the importance of establishing broad coalitions in order to develop new and more sustainable raw materials for fish feed.
– We are pleased with the commitment, ambitions and knowledge the Norwegian Seafood Federation and key players in the feed industry are bringing to the table. Together, we will lay the foundations for the development of novel raw materials, lowering emissions and reducing environmental impact. With Råvareløftet we invite government and state bodies, R&D environments, industry and other societal actors to participate in an initiative that aims to create jobs and economic value, as well as cut greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the Paris Agreement, says Hauge of the Bellona Foundation.
– With Råvareløftet we show the resolve with which the Norwegian seafood industry contributes to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. We are a future-oriented industry that works to ensure that Norway retains its position as the world’s leading and most sustainable ocean nation, emphasizes Ystmark of the Norwegian Seafood Federation.
About Råvareløftet
The purpose of Råvareløftet is to accelerate the phasing in of new and sustainable raw materials for fish feed in order to enable increased production of seafood while reducing the overall climate and environmental footprint of the aquaculture industry. Råvareløftet will focus on sustainable raw materials with commercial potential, while ensuring their nutritional suitability for fish welfare and growth. Candidates for the feed sources of the future are many and include everything from algae, krill, copepods and insects to yeasts and bacteria as well as animal and vegetable by-products.
Contact info:
Joakim Hauge, Manager, Bellona’s Bio-programmes and project responsible for Råvareløftet: 408 56 190 | joakim@bellona.no
Henrik Stenwig, Director of Environment and Health, the Norwegian Seafood Federation: 918 20 072 | hst@sjomatnorge.no (Professional inquiries)
Geir Ove Ystmark, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Federation: 481 27 155 |goy@sjomatnorge.no
About the Bellona Foundation
The Bellona Foundation is an independent non-profit foundation that works to solve the world’s climate challenges, among other things by identifying and implementing sustainable climate solutions. The foundations mandate is to work towards improved ecological understanding and the protection of nature, environment and health, and it shall act to promote this purpose. Bellona collaborates with businesses, academia and other public and private institutions on initiatives that promote the public good and significant, positive impacts on climate and the environment. The Bellona Environmental Foundation was established in 1986, and today has 61 employees and offices in Oslo, Brussels, Murmansk, St. Petersburg and London.
About the Norwegian Seafood Federation
The Norwegian Seafood Federation represents the interests of approximately 680 member companies with more than 14 800 employees. Our member companies cover the entire value chain from fjord to dinner table in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in Norway.
The Norwegian Seafood Federation is affiliated with the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO). NHO is the main representative body for Norwegian employers with a current membership of over 28.000 companies ranging from small family-owned businesses to multinational companies.