A unique initiative – the first of its kind in Europe
- Norway's aquaculture and fisheries industry aims to double the size of the marine sector by 2030. However, it is concerning that fish feed accounts for more than 70% of greenhouse gas emissions from salmon farming – through the raw materials used, as well as the transport and production of the feed. In addition, 90% of the raw materials used in fish feed are imported.
- Approximately 35 per cent of salmon feed consists of protein. European salmon farming alone requires as much as 1 million tonnes of protein. In 2020, soy protein concentrate accounted for almost 40 per cent of this protein content, despite being an unsustainable feed ingredient. Marine protein sources accounted for approximately 20 per cent.
- Feed ingredients such as krill and soya travel long distances. Krill is transported from Antarctica and soya from Brazil.
Tina Olaussen and Roger Røstad founded NutriShell in 2021. Since then, the company has developed at a rapid pace, with our support.
The first and only one in Europe
In 2023, a brand-new factory opened on Hitra, west of Trondheim. Here, residual raw materials from crab shells generated by HitraMat's production are processed. HitraMat is by far Europe's largest supplier of brown crab – and the perfect partner for newcomer NutriShell.
The factory is located next door to crab producer HitraMat. This collaborative project is the only one of its kind in Europe.
This unique partnership also fits perfectly with the Norwegian Government's aquaculture strategy: investing in alternative, sustainable feed resources and producing protein for fish feed from different raw materials and through industrial processes other than those used today.
«Nutrishell began developing its business idea for using residual raw materials from crab shells in 2020 through its sister company, Kystmiljø AS. Until then, the raw material had been dumped at sea. We therefore decided to support the project, which aimed to turn this resource into ingredients for aquaculture feed.»
Tuseth adds:
‘We considered the project a good example of the circular economy in practice.’
Our customer adviser believes NutriShell has a highly skilled team whose members complement each other well. Tuseth believes this is also why the company is growing and moving so quickly:
'They have done an excellent job of building relationships with partners in R&D communities and with other stakeholders across the value chain,' she explains.
Healthier fish
Extensive research is under way to reduce the environmental impact and use of unsustainable feed ingredients, such as Brazilian soya.
‘Initially, we had several projects exploring whether marine by-products from shellfish could be put to better use. Crab shells quickly became a key focus, as we saw opportunities to develop new products from them,’ says Tina Olaussen of NutriShell.
And the products? They are used in fish feed, among other things. NutriShell already produces crab powder from crab by-products on a large scale. Several feeding trials, including some funded by our grants, have shown that cod make very good use of the crab by-products, while salmon have shown improved health – and better skin quality.
«Innovation Norway has played a key role in our initiative. We have received support through both the Environmental Technology Scheme and the Bioeconomy Scheme. We have also used several of Innovation Norway's advisory services, including guidance on intellectual property rights and insights into opportunities in new international markets.»
Lower greenhouse gas emissions
NutriShell's production on Hitra offers another major advantage. The total transport distance, from catching the crab in the Norwegian Sea, the North Sea and the North Atlantic to delivering the feed ingredient to feed supplier Skretting on Averøya, is considerably shorter than for many competing feed ingredients. By comparison, krill is transported from Antarctica and soya from Brazil. NutriShell's feed ingredient therefore has a much lower carbon footprint.
‘The residual raw material from HitraMat is as locally sourced as it gets. It comes straight through the wall into our production facility. The finished product is then transported from NutriShell on Hitra to Skretting on Averøya, where it is used as a feed ingredient,’ Olaussen explains.