Exports from the world's first red-feed factory

The factory in Sortland, Nordland, opened in August and will produce large quantities of dietary supplements and fish feed from the small zooplankton Calanus finmarchicus. This species of copepod makes up the majority of the zooplankton in the Norwegian Sea ecosystem. It has commercial potential due to its large biomass and high protein and fat content.

Zooca uses the raw material to produce oil, which is sold as a dietary supplement to consumers in the EU and the USA. We also produce protein products for the aquaculture industry across much of the world. Numerous studies have shown that the oil has health benefits, and we plan to invest even more in research going forward.

We have supported the company with grants, loans and advisory services. In 2020, it received an extraordinary innovation grant of NOK 7.5 million from us to develop a sustainable supply chain for products made from red feed.

‘Our innovation grants are aimed at companies with ambitions for growth. The funding helps them carry out strong innovation projects that benefit society. Zooca’s project meets our criteria and aligns with the Norwegian Government’s bioeconomy strategy,’ says Thomas Stien, financing advisor at Innovation Norway Arctic.

‘Support from Innovation Norway strengthens the foundation for scaling up a new Norwegian biomarine value chain. The funding will help reduce risk as we phase in our new factory and successfully introduce our products in new countries and sales channels,’ says Gunnar Rørstad, former CEO.

Rørstad has played a key role in developing the company founded in 2002 by Kurt Tande, Professor of Marine Biology. Nearly two decades of dedicated expertise, research and product development have made the world's first red feed factory a reality.

The goal is to increase production tenfold and expand internationally. In June 2021, the company raised NOK 100 million in new equity through a share issue with Broodstock Capital.

'The growth potential is significant, and our plan is to work towards a stock market listing within one to two years. This initiative will create new opportunities for the fishing fleet, and we are working closely with technology developers to enable more people to harvest this unique resource,' says Zooca CEO Siv-Katrin Ramskjell.

The company will focus on Australia, China, India and South Korea over the next few years. These markets have shown significant interest in Zooca's oil.

'But first, we need to overcome regulatory barriers to export so that our products made from Calanus finmarchicus can be approved in these markets. Innovation Norway plays an important role in our efforts and has helped us gain access to international markets. Without Innovation Norway's support and confidence in us, this would have been a difficult and challenging undertaking,' says Ramskjell.

For aquaculture products, the company will continue to pursue opportunities in markets that farm marine fish and prawns, such as India and Indonesia.

Commercial fishing of Calanus finmarchicus has sparked debate, with fishers in particular fearing a sharp decline in both the population and this vital food source for fish larvae. They are also concerned about the amount of bycatch resulting from the fishing.

‘We are harvesting resources that belong to us all, and that requires responsibility at every level. Every aspect of harvesting Calanus finmarchicus has been thoroughly assessed, and the total annual quota reflects and follows the provisions of the Marine Resources Act and our management plan,’ Ramskjell emphasises.

She adds that Zooca's work will create long-term opportunities for this value chain, benefiting everyone who wants to invest in these marine resources.

Read more about how Zooca presents its solution to international audiences on Business Norway.