How to develop the seafood industry

Sweden is well placed to develop seafood production and processing. But increased investment in the industry is required. That is why Sweden Food Arena and Innovatum Science Park have mapped the industry's need for innovation and research.

The survey was carried out in 2022 with the aim of identifying the seafood companies' need for new knowledge and innovation to strengthen the industry's competitiveness, create new establishments and close gaps in the processing chain.

- Seafood has great potential to contribute to the transition, and we have tried to help the development by identifying needs and opportunities to increase Swedish production, says Kerstin Eriksson, Sweden Food Arena.

Kerstin Eriksson emphasizes the importance of increasing interest in seafood, the development of new products and the positive effects this can have on health, well-being and food security.

-"We have talked to the entire value chain and have an overall picture of what is required. We are now calling for continued increased investment in seafood, but also coordination of efforts along the entire value chain," she continues.

Increased level of processing

Susanne Ekstedt is innovation leader in blue bioeconomy at Innovatum Science Park and confirms Kerstin Eriksson's view of what is needed.

- There is a gap in the processing chain that we need to close. For seafood to be on everyone's table, we need to learn to eat new products from new raw materials," she says.

-But the new products also need to be created and produced. Seaweed of various kinds, sole, mussel meat and varieties of oysters. There are also new, exciting species that have great potential for development, as well as using the whole fish and not just the fillets.

More curious consumers

-All actors in the chain need to do more. The trade needs to develop communication, for example with more recipes, so that younger consumers with excitement and expectation choose to prepare seafood and succeed in the kitchen. The processing chain needs more knowledge about the importance of the production process for preserving nutrition, content and sensory qualities. The industry also needs two different scales of process knowledge. On the one hand, the small-scale and diversified, when you have a breadth of raw materials that you need to test on the market, and on the other hand, knowledge about scaling up popular products," says Kerstin Eriksson.

Production hotels and investments

Susanne Ekstedt believes that a production hotel could be part of the solution for faster development.

- "It would be great to have a place where small series can be produced and tested on the market," she says. "We can capture the issues and make it happen, but the industry needs investment to boost growth - not only private venture capital, but also investment from both regions and the state.

Kerstin Eriksson points out that Sweden Food Arena's entire purpose with the project is to create attention, more efforts and increased commitment to innovate around seafood with the goal that companies produce and develop new sustainable and tasty products that reach the consumer's plate.

- When we succeed, we also gain health and quality of life," she says.

Developed in collaboration with Food in Focus