Orust wants to make the most of raw materials from the sea

In Orust municipality, companies, researchers and innovation actors are now coming together to discuss how to make efficient use of raw materials from the sea. The aim is to build innovative partnerships and industries for a stronger business community and society.

- We are in the right place where raw materials are landed and now we need to bring together all the talented entrepreneurs, researchers and innovation support actors to build on and develop the industry for the future," says business developer Ronny Svensson, business strategist on Orust.

The seafood industry is nothing new on the largest island on the west coast. For hundreds of years, there have been timber coking, seaweed drying and herring factories, but now the industry is entering a new phase. After a meeting in November that brought together some fifteen local companies, researchers, Innovatum Science Park, the Sotenäs Symbiosis Center and others, the industry is beginning to form to make better use of the biomass landed on Orust.

- When I heard about the herring and realized how much you can make from things that are left over from what we harvest today, it was an eye-opener. There's so much more we can do with what we pick up from the sea or grow in ponds for that matter.

Increasing preparedness with local production

Today, it is mainly herring and mussels that are processed in the industries on western Orust and Ronny Svensson hopes that the biomarine sector can grow and link to other local businesses.

- There are many requests to use raw materials from the sea in new products. There is also a contingency plan, where much more of the raw material that is harvested today can be used for human consumption. This applies to mussels, herring and seaweed. Several exciting products have been developed and several are on their way to the market.