DEBATE SGS There has been an incredibly good level of commitment in the work of putting together the conference. The Norwegian seafood industry can play a key role in developing society in a more sustainable direction. But, to get there, we must first solve a number of our own environmental challenges on the way there, says Tanja Hoel, head of the seafood cluster, NCE Seafood.
Seafood a climate winner
“The world’s population will increase by nearly 2 billion people over the next 30 years. If we are to find a responsible global balance in the world’s food production, we need to increase food production from the sea,” says Einar Wathne, President of Cargill Aqua Nutrition and Chairman of NCE Seafood.
"Both the World Bank and the World Food Organization point to aquaculture as the solution to global food and climate challenges. Food from the sea is already a climate winner and joint collaboration will drive forward the right solutions," he continues.
The Sustainable Growth Summit in Bergen brings together some of the leading experts on climate and sustainability. For over two days, the seafood cluster will focus on climate challenges and the need for innovation in the seafood industry.
-The purpose of the Sustainable Growth Summit is to create a common understanding of sustainability and demonstrate our social responsibility in finding good solutions to the major societal challenges related to food and climate, continues Hoel.
The conference is organized by the seafood cluster, NCE Seafood, which consists of Norway's leading research institutions and seafood companies. The director of NCE Seafood notes that the industry is eager to drive forward good sustainable solutions. This is an industry that takes sustainability responsibility very seriously. The fact that we have set aside two days to discuss the topic shows just how important sustainability is for the industry, she believes.
Holistic sustainability approach
The program is packed with international experts, business leaders and politicians for a holistic approach to climate and sustainability. Several big names are on the program, including Kanako Hasegawa from the UN's Sustainable Development Program, Party Leader Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap), and the seafood industry's leading experts from, among others, Marine Harvest, Cargill, Lerøy, DNV GL, DNB. A separate session is dedicated to the participants of the Seafood Trainee program, which started for the first time this fall.
Several of Norway's leading climate researchers include Professor Gunnar Eskeland from NHH on climate and business development, Professor Olav Kjesbu from the Hjort Center and Research Director Geir Lasse Taranger from the Institute of Marine Research.
The university is hosting the conference, which will be opened by Rector Dag Rune Olsen from the University of Bergen.
Read more about the conference here.
For further information, contact:
Tanja Hoel, Managing Director at NCE Seafood
telephone; +47 928 01 315/tanja@seafoodinnovation.no
