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Benchmark lands egg supply deal with Salmon Evolution

Benchmark Genetics Norway has secured a seven-year deal to supply salmon eggs to Norwegian aquaculture firm Salmon Evolution for its planned land-based salmon farm in Indre Harøy in western Norway.

The agreement includes collaboration on genetics, ova, product deliveries and expertise development related to land-based salmon farming, a joint press release from the companies said.

The salmon genetics will be optimized for land-based farming with an emphasis on growth, robustness and properties such as fat content, color and fillet quality, the statement said. Salmon Evolution’s land-based farm is projected to become Europe’s largest of its kind when completed, with production capacity of 36,000 metric tons. The first construction phase will have a capacity of 9,000 metric tons.

“Our collaboration with Benchmark Genetics will ensure a stable, year-round supply of high-quality genetic products, and thereby a steady and predictable production of salmon to the highest quality standards,” says Håkon A Berg, CEO of Salmon Evolution.

The seven-year agreement, from 2020 to 2027, makes Benchmark Genetics the main supplier of ova to Salmon Evolution during this period. The contract also includes collaboration on research and development projects for breeding and land-based aquaculture.

“Last year, we opened SalmoBreed Salten, the most modern and advanced land-based broodstock facility in the world. Being designed to keep the nucleus of our broodstock on land throughout its life cycle, it provides the highest standard of biosecurity in the industry. Our production model gives full control of the breeding season and puts us in a position to deliver ova according to customer orders every week of the year, ” says Geir Olav Melingen.