The 100% Shrimp initiative aims to utilise more of each shrimp, increase the value of each shrimp landed.
Background
Start-up company, Primex, are extracting chitin (the acetylated form of chitosan/the source biopolymer converted/deacetylated) to produce chitosan (a high –value bioactive high value compound) from shrimp shells that can be used in dietary supplements, nutraceuticals and biomedical applications, a market with a growing demand. Today’s problem is that up to 65% of a shrimp is wasted, despite its suitability for chitosan production, and growing demand from Primex.
This represents a major loss of potential circular value for the Nordic region. Several bottlenecks currently prevent the industry from creating value and reducing their loss.
They are:
- the process for drying, milling and handling shell for chitin and chitosan production has not been developed nor standardised
- the cross-border supply chain is disconnected
- the infrastructure to land, store and process this yield is lacking in some site
there are no cost-effective models of how such a large company can make this change to valorise their secondary yields.
100% shrimp seeks to resolve these challenges through key cross-border Nordic collaborations that will streamline and enable the creation of new circular value & supply chains, activate, and implement that supply chain at scale and finally showcase this Nordic model for fast-tracking seafood companies toward waste reduction and circular value creation.
Nordic added value
Carrying out this project at the Nordic level is crucial to its success and long-term impact, as it brings cross-border added value. It also makes the results of this project more resilient as it provides a diversification of skills, knowledge and market. This project bridges previously disconnected parts of the supply chain. Each Nordic partner brings their own expertise:
- Iceland contributes knowledge in biotech, 100% Fish, and collaboration;
- Denmark focuses on drying, process development, and side stream value
- Greenland adds expertise in fisheries, fish processing, and large-scale operations
- Norway provides subcontracted expertise and research on seafood-based materials
By combining these strengths, the project will accelerate and future-proof the development of the Nordic circular economy and add new value to each country.
About Iceland Ocean Cluster
The Iceland Ocean Cluster is an industrial cluster fostering collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship in the blue economy: the Iceland Ocean Cluster supports, incubates and invests in start-ups creating value from under-utilised marine resources – pushing to do more with less.
The Ocean Cluster in Reykjavik is a community of over 70 companies and entrepreneurs in the blue economy. It includes companies in aquaculture, fish sales, marine technology, software, design, biotechnology, cosmetics, and more.