New circular economy program in the seafood industry
From left Lars Jacob Tynes Pedersen (NHH), Solveig Holm (Responsible Circular Economy Program), Nina Stangeland (CEO, NCE Seafood), Sveinung Jørgensen (NHH) – Photo: Kevin Ha
– We are seeing a significant increase in attention and focus among the cluster's companies related to the topic of circular economy. There is a high interest in working together to realize circular economy business models and new value chains related to this. We have therefore been very excited to kick off this program, says Nina Stangeland when they launched the cluster's new Circular Economy Program this week together with key players in the industry.
Participants from various companies in the industry arrived this week in Bekkjarvik in Austevoll and will receive an introduction to the important topic over the course of two days. The goal of the program is to provide inspiration and competence-building on circular business models for those working in the industry.
“Circular economy is an increasingly important topic that is central to ensuring sustainable growth in the aquaculture industry. I am participating in the Circular Economy Program to learn more about this topic,” says participant Marianne Wethe Koch, Sustainability Manager at Cargill. She adds that the program is very interesting and relevant to her in her job.
Marianne Wethe Koch, Sustainability Manager at Cargill – Photo : Kevin Ha
Andreas Moe Larsen, who is sustainability manager at Bremnes Seashore, is also looking forward to gaining more insight into the circular economy and circular business models:
– I work with sustainability at Bremnes Seashore, and would like more knowledge about circular economy principles. I therefore see participation in this program as relevant competence enhancement.
Four collections
In beautiful surroundings, participants will learn about circular business models, and they will receive presentations on current topics and cases from the industry. There will also be company visits, group work with problem solving and exchange of experiences. The visit to Austevoll is the first of four modules in the program, and the subsequent modules will address frameworks, global trends, opportunities and future perspectives.
– The goal is for the program to provide knowledge about circular economy and circular business models and inspire more circular solutions in the seafood industry and across value chains, says Solveig Holm, Senior Project Manager at NCE Seafood.
The program is a collaboration with Sveinung Jørgensen and Lars Jacob Tynes Pedersen, leading experts in sustainable business and the circular economy. They are podcasters, entrepreneurs and advisors, and associate professors at NHH where they lead the Center for Sustainable Business at NHH. Together with them, participants will get a deep dive into circular business models across value chains and inspiration for how more circular solutions can be established in the industry.
Lars Jacob Tynes Pedersen, NHH – Photo: Kevin Ha
Circular commitment
The Circular Economy Program is part of the Capacity Boost BIOSIRKEL, which is managed by NORCE and is financed by NCE Seafood, Vestland County Council and Bergen Municipality. The project will be part of the county council's focus on green business development and sustainable value creation, where the goal is for circular economy to become a leading and important tool in all industries. To succeed in this in the seafood industry, it is important to have initiatives from industry members. Nina Stangeland, Managing Director of NCE Seafood, explains why the program was established:
– The seafood industry's circular economy program is based on input from our partners and members, and is an initiative to operationalize the cluster's industrial focus area "climate, environment and circular economy". The goal of this focus area is to strengthen focus and unleash the power of collaboration, knowledge dissemination and project development to reduce the industry's climate and environmental footprint, as well as actively stimulate increased focus on the circular economy.
NCE Seafood is a business cluster that works for sustainable growth and development in the seafood industry, and the project is an important part of this work. A more resource-efficient and circular economy is necessary for Norway to achieve the climate, environmental, and sustainability goals we have committed to, and the Government's aquaculture strategy identifies a circular economy as an important prerequisite for us to succeed with a sustainable, healthy, and safe Norwegian seafood industry in the future.
Contact details:
Nina Stangeland, CEO, NCE Seafood
Tel. 941 56 956
nina@seafoodinnovation.no
Solveig Holm, Head of Circular Economy Program, NCE Seafood
Tel. 920 58 531
solveig@seafoodinnovation.no
Circular economy program
