Today, 72% of all seafood eaten in Sweden is imported - this is not sustainable. With innovative circular solutions, increased knowledge and strengthened market, the center will contribute to a long-term and sustainable production of Swedish seafood through:
- Increase food production from fisheries catches and side streams
- Expand sustainable aquaculture
- Stimulate a protein shift focusing on blue-green protein sources
- Change consumer behavior and increase demand for new, sustainable and nutritious seafood products
- Increase supply and diversification of nutritious and Swedish-produced seafood
- Increase society's resilience and supply capacity through blue food production
Through research and knowledge dissemination, the initiative creates better conditions for seafood production. The research focuses on increased food production from wild-caught fish and sustainable farming of algae, fish and other edible animals in circular systems. It will also develop smart processing methods to transform complex raw materials into new food ingredients and products.
In addition, research will delve into consumer attitudes and the impact of seafood on human health, as well as the environmental impact of seafood production, and animal health and welfare in farming systems. Blue Food also focuses on administrative barriers and water and coastal zone planning.
Blue Food is the largest investment to date in Swedish seafood, with funding of SEK 48 million from the Swedish Research Council Formas. Behind the formation of the centre is a national collection of research and innovation actors, regions, municipalities, organizations and some forty companies. The initiative includes actors from the entire seafood value chain from primary production in the form of sustainable aquaculture systems and underutilized wild fish species to process and product development and the production of healthy, Swedish seafood.
| The role of Innovatum | Coordinator for innovation and business contacts |
| Project duration | 2024-12-30-2028-12-30 |
Co-financiers
Axfoundation, Fjällbackakräftor, Guldhaven Pelagiska, Göteborgs Fiskauktion, Hamra Fisk, Havsodlarnas producentorganisation, Klädesholmen Seafood, Landsbygdsnätverket, Lerøy, Luleå kommun, Länsstyrelsen i Gotlands län, Länsstyrelsen i Stockholm, Marenor, Marint centrum Simrishamn, Matfiskodlarna, Musselbaren, Musselfeed, N-research, Nomad Foods, Nordic Seafarm, Orkla, Pelagic Seafood Sweden, Pronofa, Royal Park Hospitality & Education Hub, Savolax, Scanfjord, Seac AB, Smögenlax, Sotenäs Symbiosis Center, Swedefish Machinery, Sweden Pelagic, Swedish Algae Factory, Swedish surplus energy collaboration, Swemarc
Supporting
ASC, Axfood, Baltic Sea Impact Foundation/Blått kol, Blått Centrum Gotland, Catxalot, Coop, First Eye, Fiskbranschens Riksförbund, Gårdsfisk, Hushållningssällskapet Gotland, Hushållningssällskapet Norrbotten-Västerbotten, Ica, Koastal, Kobb AB, Kristineberg Center, MSC, Nationellt Kompetenscentrum för Vattenbruk, Nära Mat, Orust Shellfish, Ostronakademien, Paulig, Pond Fish and Greens, Region Gotland, Samla Sverige, Sjömatsfrämjandet, Submariner Network, Svenskmärkning, Swedish Aquaculture and Seafood, Swedish Incubators & Science Parks, The Livekindly Company, Tillväxt Gotland, Vattenbrukscentrum Norr, Vattenbrukscentrum Ost, World Wildlife Fund WWF
