Innovation Prize for Genetic Testing in Selective Breeding

Aqua Gen was presented with the North Atlantic Seafood Forums Innovation Prize during a conference arranged in Oslo, March 1-3 2011. The prize was given for the implementation of genetic testing for  IPN resistance used in salmon breeding in the aquaculture industry, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to AquaGen. 

North Atlantic Seafood Forum (NASF) eis the world's largest conference about seafood, and gathers several hundred scientists and leaders in European companies in the sea-farming industry. During the banquet Wednesday evening an Innovation Prize was awarded in three categories.  The prize winners  were chosen from among  total of 17 innovation cases which were presented at the conference. 

The three innovation prizes were awarded to:

Aqua Gen AS for "Genetic Testing in Selective Breeding" 

The jury awarded the first prize in the category Aquaculture Genetics to Aqua Gen AS. "The company is awarded the prize because this is the first time one can implement a genetic test against the most wide-spread viral disease in commercial salmon breeding," said  jury leader and professor Sissel Rogne. 

Cewatech AB for "Feed from cellulose"

The prize in the category Aquaculture Feed, went to Cewatech AB. "They receive the prize because it it the first time anyone has achieved a fungus-based production of feed from materials from the paper industry. They have shown that this is feed that can be used in a mixture of 10-30 percent," said Rogne. 

HepMarin AS for "Anticoagulant"

The third prize was awarded to HepMarin AS for having developed the anticoagulant chemical heparin from the digestive system of fish."Heparin is a very important and much-used medicine, and it is therefore fantastic that we can use fish intestines for medicine production," said Rogne. 

NASF is organized by  MareLife and  Pareto Securities, with strong support from the industry's key organizations and firms. MareLife is a network organization for researchers and industry in the areas of fishery, aquaculture, the ingredient industry and bio-prospecting.   Oslo Teknopol is the secretariat for MareLife.