" When we lift our perspective and look at the challenges that lie ahead, it becomes easier to know what measures are needed today to manage the challenges of tomorrow", says Elise Sæle Dale, Project developer "Land meets Ocean".
For the second focus group meeting in 2022, we wanted to introduce a new method of collaboration. Therefore, we chose to use part of the focus group meetings as workshops. The scenario method involves looking forward and trying to imagine future changes and challenges. The goal was to explore how trends in our society could affect the seafood industry and its growth.
Different changes could for example be technological development, social, political and cultural change, or climate change. All the mentioned examples affect the industry differently, and the participants had to try to describe the impact of different challenges and scenarios. Visualization of possible scenarios can make everyone involved better equipped for the future.
Besides the workshops, the participants got valuable insight into the five focus areas and discussions about relevant challenges. It is important, because the industry is dependent on constant renewing of knowledge to overcome upcoming issues. The focus group meetings were a good opportunity to get a refill and start thinking about the challenges of the future
About the focus groups
The focus groups are one of the most important platforms for interaction between the members of the cluster. Participants in these focus groups are professional and knowledgeable people from the different parts of the industry and across the seafood value chain. This makes the gatherings an important information channel from the members to the cluster and vice versa. In other words, the focus groups ensure that we work with the issues which are useful to the whole cluster and its members.
Each focus group is tied to one of the industry areas. The first theme is climate, environment and circular economy. Second comes digital transformation and digitalisation, followed by fish health and welfare, and novel feed ingredients. Last, but not least, the fifth industry area is future competence and talent attraction. All the focus areas have been developed closely with the members of the cluster.
