Martin Skaug is the communications director of the Norwegian Seafood Council.
After attending the Innovation Norway US-Norway Business Summit in San Francisco, California, USA earlier this year, where I was joined by some of Norway’s leading aquaculture producers, I wondered why the Norwegian approach to technological innovation is not more widely adopted in other major fisheries markets.
It’s no secret that the Norwegian aquaculture industry is a world leader in technological innovation. Often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of fisheries” by many of the tech-savvy aquaculturists and entrepreneurs attending the conference, Norway has become the go-to location for fisheries companies looking to innovate.
Many emerging innovators believe that Norway is unrivaled when it comes to technology adoption and development. While there are inevitable challenges in large, growing markets, the country is an undeniable source of enviable local and international talent.
But why this?
Since 1985, the Norwegian aquaculture sector has grown considerably, reaching an average annual growth rate of 12.5% between 1985 and 2020, the fastest in the world. However, this growth has been accompanied by many challenges, perhaps due to this rapid development.
While Norway has ancient roots in traditional fishing practices, the country also has an incredible appetite for change and innovation. The Norwegian aquaculture industry is home to a significant number of tech startups, reflecting the country’s commitment to innovation in the sector. As of 2024, Norway is home to several hundred tech startups related to aquaculture and fisheries, including companies developing cutting-edge solutions in areas such as AI-based fish monitoring, smart feeding systems, and sustainable aquaculture practices.
Take Manolin as an examplea Norwegian AI startup, Manolin uses predictive modeling through data collection to better understand agricultural challenges and solve them with mathematical precision. The company recognized the potential of data to make aquaculture more efficient and less resource-intensive. After a few months of market research, the company determined that Norway was the ideal place to begin its journey. Originally founded in the United States, Manolin relocated its main operations to Norway due to the country’s abundant structured data resources.
Norwegian salmon farmers have been collecting data since the 1990s, a practice that was uncommon globally at the time. Many Norwegian farms had computer systems storing data long before salmon farms in other countries had access to the internet, let alone sensors, cameras and digital inventory systems. This well-established infrastructure has given Manolin access to data that forms the basis of predictive models that can determine the effectiveness of genetics, breeding programs and vaccines. Recently, the company saved a well-known salmon farmer $5 million (€4.5 million) in revenue by measuring the effectiveness of a new treatment for sea lice.
The Norwegian government has always stressed the importance of digitalization in general, which was one of the topics discussed at the Innovation Norway Summit earlier this year – and more specifically data sharing within the aquaculture sector, which is widely considered by the Norwegian government to be a must-have for increasing success. By leveraging advanced technologies and data analytics, other countries can also improve operational efficiency, improve fish health management and develop innovative solutions for sustainable growth. Manolin is simply taking this to the next level in Norway.
“Aquaculture is constantly facing new challenges,” said Tony Chen, CEO of Manolin. “Whether or not these are variables within your control, farmers are always looking for new obstacles to production. As a result, no other farming sector has seen as much technology adoption as aquaculture, especially in Norway. Norwegian farmers are always willing to experiment and change their existing working methods to optimize them for the future. That’s where we come in: we can help them determine with certainty what works and what doesn’t. Our data models, already adopted in Norway, will help farmers eliminate the uncertainty.”
Today, as Manolin celebrates its sixth anniversary in Norway, the company has been able to leverage existing farmer data and create models that answer health questions, predict future problems, accelerate scientific discovery and, much later, provide risk models that will form the basis of aquaculture insurance – something that does not yet exist.
“We cannot overestimate the importance of Norway to our business. Building an agtech company is not easy; in fact, it is incredibly challenging. Farmers operating in Norway understand that innovation is important while also knowing that results take time, making it the ideal country to introduce and implement new ideas,” Chen said. “This is why Norway has taken such a head start in aquaculture. It is because of this adoption of innovation combined with regulation. You don’t see this anywhere else and as quickly as with Norwegian salmon.
Biofeyn, a technology company also based in Norway, has an ambitious vision for the future of aquaculture systems. Operating at the intersection of biotechnology and aquaculture, Biofeyn founder Timothy Bouley leverages his medical background and expertise in advanced biotechnology to address pressing animal health issues. One of the most promising technologies they use is nano-delivery, which encapsulates essential compounds in fish feed in a protective, biodegradable shell. This innovation exponentially improves the nutritional value and absorption of feed, thereby improving fish health.
This method increases resource efficiency and significantly reduces the amount of feed required, potentially saving large salmon farmers millions each year.
Biofeyn has also developed an oral vaccine that can be incorporated into fish feed pellets, allowing for continuous administration and booster doses throughout the fish’s life. This vaccine targets the main bacteria responsible for infections, such as Moritelleproviding a more efficient and less labor-intensive solution for fish farmers.
Similar to Manolin, Biofeyn’s journey began in Norway because of the country’s leading status in global salmon production and its willingness to embrace technological advances.
“We like to call ourselves a delivery company, but instead of delivering an Amazon order to your door, we deliver biological compounds to where they need to be in farmed salmon,” said Timothy Bouley, CEO of Biofeyn. “In the next five to ten years, our nanotechnologies will become the industry standard, enabling salmon farmers to ensure optimal health for their fish. Stabilizing nutrients and oral vaccines is not a question of if, but when, as Norway is just beginning.”
Part of Norway’s appeal to aquatech startups is that the government is working to simplify the licensing system for aquaculture operations. In addition, there are efforts to improve the traffic light system, which regulates production capacity based on environmental impact assessments. This traffic light system, which automatically flags any poor practices or ecological inefficiencies to the Norwegian government, keeps fisheries on their toes, thereby encouraging more innovation down the road.
Even established Norwegian salmon farmers like Nordlaks, who also attended the California summit, benefit from an innovation-centric approach. By continually seeking new ways to advance and improve every step of their value chain through technology, Nordlaks has managed to maintain its status as a leading salmon farmer while driving progress in sustainable and ethical practices across the industry. Since its founding in 1989, the company has prioritized research and development, investing hundreds of millions of Norwegian kroner in technological advancements. Currently, Nordlaks uses lasers in its salmon farms to detect and eliminate salmon lice. The company has also introduced cutting-edge AI-driven robots that clean nets with minimal disturbance to essential organic matter, all without the use of harmful chemicals.
To become a world leader in aquaculture, Norway has relied on strict guidelines, close monitoring and a sustained commitment to development. This includes annual investments by fish farmers, in addition to government-led investments to fund further research and development.
For our part, within the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), we are strengthening our seafood industry on the international stage by investing heavily in marketing and promoting our products. In 2024 alone, the NSC allocated NOK 483 million (USD 45.6 million, EUR 41.2 million) to promote Norwegian seafood in 27 countries.
Reflecting on the excitement surrounding this inspiring summit, it’s clear that a critical piece of the seafood industry puzzle is the hottest trend of the moment: artificial intelligence (AI) and the vast possibilities it offers. To ensure the continued growth of the seafood sector and maintain the high standards everyone strives for, companies – especially startups – must continue to harness the power of innovation and technology.
With a rich fishing history, government support and a strong culture of innovation, the presence of such startups in Norway serves as a model that, if applied globally, can have a hugely positive effect on the international aquaculture scene. Norway intends to continue playing the leading role, but as we all know, every play needs a strong cast. This story has room for more ambitious players, such as Biofeyn, Manolin and Nordlaks. Given the ongoing challenges the industry faces, it seems we are in for another hero’s journey to solve these problems.
