Organic waste in farming of salmon 159
value- added products could achieve future valorisation pathways. The interviews indicated some new valorisation pathways for organic waste in landbased salmon farming, such as aquaponics, niche chemicals or as an energy
feedstock.
8.6.2 Impetus for future waste valorisation pathways
The development of new valorisation is therefore likely to come from three
key drivers: (1) the expected scale- up of the sludge in the near future,
(2) external actors discovering and seizing new business opportunities and
(3) the benefits of the improved environmental reputation of the industry.
1 Globally, wild fisheries are no longer able to meet the increased demand
for seafood. Consequently, the aquaculture industry in general, and the
salmon sector in particular, continues to expand to meet this growing
demand. In Norway, biological challenges related to the sea phase for
salmon farming have forced the salmon industry to move more of its production onto land. The volumes of collected sludge will increase dramatically. Despite this, few solutions for the re- use of the waste have been
successfully established. New applications will therefore be a necessity
when the scale increases.
2 Organic waste from salmon farming has a high nutritional content. It is,
for example, rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, which is a scarce resource
globally. Processed carefully, high- value by- products can be developed
from these residues. It is expected that entrepreneurs will seize this business opportunity. The high value of the raw material will therefore be a
fundamental key driver for product innovation and development of new
by- products in this industry.
3 Finally, by contributing to develop innovative waste- handling strategies,
the salmon industry will benefit from creating a more sustainable and
responsible image. Currently, pressure is being placed on the industry by
environmental groups and local activists. Better utilisation of the rest
products will contribute to improving the sustainability aspects. As such,
fish- producing firms are becoming increasingly interested in their image
and, as a result, market differentiation of their product has begun to
emerge. This is particularly the case in Denmark, because it is now feasible to produce salmon completely on land. The Danish firm’s model of
market differentiation will become more important as the industry
expands and public awareness increases about the environmental impact
of this industry. The image and “selling the story” of ecologically produced fish are important components to the business model. We assume
an increasing need to utilise the organic waste streams in an environmentally friendly and mutually beneficial manner for the salmonproducing companies, even though they do not want to be the leaders in
the development process.
value- added products could achieve future valorisation pathways. The interviews indicated some new valorisation pathways for organic waste in landbased salmon farming, such as aquaponics, niche chemicals or as an energy
feedstock.
8.6.2 Impetus for future waste valorisation pathways
The development of new valorisation is therefore likely to come from three
key drivers: (1) the expected scale- up of the sludge in the near future,
(2) external actors discovering and seizing new business opportunities and
(3) the benefits of the improved environmental reputation of the industry.
1 Globally, wild fisheries are no longer able to meet the increased demand
for seafood. Consequently, the aquaculture industry in general, and the
salmon sector in particular, continues to expand to meet this growing
demand. In Norway, biological challenges related to the sea phase for
salmon farming have forced the salmon industry to move more of its production onto land. The volumes of collected sludge will increase dramatically. Despite this, few solutions for the re- use of the waste have been
successfully established. New applications will therefore be a necessity
when the scale increases.
2 Organic waste from salmon farming has a high nutritional content. It is,
for example, rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, which is a scarce resource
globally. Processed carefully, high- value by- products can be developed
from these residues. It is expected that entrepreneurs will seize this business opportunity. The high value of the raw material will therefore be a
fundamental key driver for product innovation and development of new
by- products in this industry.
3 Finally, by contributing to develop innovative waste- handling strategies,
the salmon industry will benefit from creating a more sustainable and
responsible image. Currently, pressure is being placed on the industry by
environmental groups and local activists. Better utilisation of the rest
products will contribute to improving the sustainability aspects. As such,
fish- producing firms are becoming increasingly interested in their image
and, as a result, market differentiation of their product has begun to
emerge. This is particularly the case in Denmark, because it is now feasible to produce salmon completely on land. The Danish firm’s model of
market differentiation will become more important as the industry
expands and public awareness increases about the environmental impact
of this industry. The image and “selling the story” of ecologically produced fish are important components to the business model. We assume
an increasing need to utilise the organic waste streams in an environmentally friendly and mutually beneficial manner for the salmonproducing companies, even though they do not want to be the leaders in
the development process.