Salmon Evolution, a land-based aquaculture facility being built on the Norwegian island of Indre Harøy, has contracted with Benchmark Genetics Norway for its supply of ova.
Salmon Evolution’s fish farm is currently under construction, with the first phase of construction expected to cost NOK 1.3 billion (USD 130 million, EUR 118 million) and result in an annual farming capacity of 9,000 metric tons (MT) of Atlantic salmon annually. The company eventually hopes to complete two additional phases of construction that will expand the facility to produce 36,000 MT of salmon per year, which would make it the largest on-land seafood farm in Europe.
Salmon Evolution’s seven-year contract with Benchmark runs through 2027, and also includes collaboration on research and development projects with the goal of developing salmon genetics optimized for land-based farming. Benchmark will focus on producing fish capable of fast growth to robust sizes, and containing ideal properties in regard to fat content, color, and fillet quality.
“We’re very pleased to have signed this agreement with Salmon Evolution, which confirms our strong position as a genetics supplier to land-based fish farming worldwide,” Benchmark Commercial Director Geir Olav Melingen said in a press release.
Melingen said Benchmark’s opening of its SalmoBreed Salten facility in Norway in 2019 will give it a leg up in meeting Salmon Evolution’s demands for highest-quality ova.
“Being designed to keep the nucleus of our broodstock on land throughout its life cycle, it provides the highest standard of biosecurity in the industry,” Melingen said. “Our production model gives full control of the breeding season and puts us in a position to deliver ova according to customer orders every week of the year.”
Salmon Evolution CEO Håkon A. Berg said the partnership will benefit both parties, as it will guarantee a premium supply of ova for his farm while also allowing Benchmark to hone its processes in order to best position itself for the expansion of the land-based aquaculture sector in Europe and around the globe.
“We’re building up a sustainable industrial chain with a high level of biological performance from ova to harvest-ready fish,” Berg said. “Our collaboration with Benchmark Genetics will ensure a stable year-round supply of high-quality genetic products, and thereby a steady and predictable production of salmon to the highest quality standards.”
The partnership could extend to Salmon Evolution’s second project, announced in July 2020 when South Korea-based Dongwon Industries, South Korea's largest seafood company and the owner of StarKist, has entered into a partnership agreement with Salmon Evolution for a minority stake in the Romsdal, Norway-based aquaculture firm. In September 2020, the companies announced they will build a 20,000 MT land-based fish farm in South Korea utilizing Salmon Evolution’s chosen technology. They will also “jointly assess future opportunities for scaling similar projects in other Asian markets as well as in North America,” according to Berg, who said Salmon Evolution’s medium- to long-term expansion plans envisage a total annual output of roughly 70,000 MT.
“As land-based farming doesn’t need to take into account the challenges faced in the sea, our focus will be on achieving the best possible fish health, optimal water quality, and implementing strict standards of quality feed with a sustainable origin. Combined, we believe they will give our customers a first-class salmon,” Berg said.
Photo courtesy of Salmon Evolution and Benchmark Genetics
