Nærbø, Norway-based feed technology company Laksesystemer has signed agreements to bring its technology to fish farms in South Korea, Iceland, and Japan.
The company, which supplies AI and automated feed systems to land-based and recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) operations, will deliver feeding systems to the farms, as well as on-demand operational support.
“We are experiencing strong international interest in our solutions from players investing in land-based fish farming,” Laksesystemer CEO Ole Gabriel Kverneland said in a release. “Our technology is developed with a focus on operational reliability, and we have systems that enable us to provide remote assistance to customers worldwide efficiently. This means our clients always have access to Norwegian expertise to help optimize their facilities and production. [Laksesystemer systems] are designed for maximum precision and reduced feed waste, which is crucial for success in land-based RAS production.”
Laksesystemer has previously focused primarily on providing technology for Scandinavian fish-farming operations, but the company said that the expansion marks a significant milestone in its growth.
The timing of the international agreements is especially good, the company said, because a new resource rent tax in Norway has created uncertainty within the aquaculture industry and its associated supplier sector.
Mirae Aqua Farm, one of the firm’s new clients, is currently building a facility in the South Korean coastal city of Pohang. CEO Suhung Cho said that when it is complete, the facility will have the capacity to produce 10,000 metric tons of salmon.
According to Cho, his organization chose Laksesystemer after a long review process.
“We have invested significant time and preparations [into] finding competent suppliers and partners for our project, and we are excited to collaborate with Laksesystemer,” Cho said.
A knowledge exchange program between Norway and South Korea organized by Innovation Norway was instrumental to the South Korean agreement, accoridng to Kverneland, who said that “the program provided valuable insight into the South Korean market and strengthened our collaboration with local stakeholders.”