Wednesday, February 2, 2022, Ingibjörg Birna Erlingsdóttir, the mayor of Reykhólahreppur and Finnur Árnason, manager of Thorverk hf. joined efforts to raise funds and facilitate the unfolding of the research and development centre in Reykholar.
On Feb 4 2020 two important meetings were held with directors of distingushed research institutes, Oddur Már Gunnarsson, director of MATIS hf. and and Þorsteinn Sigurðsson, Director General of the Marine Research Institute, the Marine and Water Research and Consulting Institute. In both occations a declaration of intent for co-operation within research and monitoring of algae in the Breiðafjörður ecosystem as well as using research outcomes to facilitate diversification of products was set out as a goal in a common agreement. The purpose of the collaboration is to increase knowledge, job diversity and value creation, especially from seaweed and kelp, and to show through research that this marine resource is utilized in a sustainable way. This agreement will only be based on public private partnerships in fully funded research projects and does not oblige the companies nor the institutes in a financial manner.
It is Dr. Hólmfríður Sveinsdóttir who will shape the operations of the Center. Hólmfríður led the establishment of research related value adding production for the fishing industry, quality management and full use of rawmaterials at Verið in Sauðárkrókur, where Matís' office was important. Subsequently, the start-up company Protis was launched. Hólmfríður was the inventor of the Protis fish protein production. Protis was the first company in Iceland to set up a process for dried fish protein and collagen, which is made from by-products of fish processing and sold under the Protis Fish Protein brand.
Experts at the Marine Research Institute have studied the shallow waters of Breiðafjörður, and published reports on the condition, growth and density of seaweed and kelp. Karl Gunnarsson is the undoubted pioneer of that research, but now there is a generational change in various areas at the institute. The Marine Research Institute published the first advice on Ascophyllum in Breiðafjörður in 2018 and it is based on the institute's assessment of the total biomass of the fjord. Breiðafjörður hots about a quarter of Iceland's coastline and the growth conditions are unique. The institute welcomes opportunities for collaboration on research into this resource, as seaweed and kelp are increasingly attracting attention due to their diverse utilization possibilities.
Þörungaverksmiðjan hf. has supported algae research by providing raw materials for developmental experiments and tests, boats and vehicles, experienced seafarers and safety equipment to assist. Extensive knowledge and experience has been gained on the nature of the raw material, drying and grinding. Þörungaverksmiðjan hf. participates in the establishment of the Icelandic Algae Center to further strengthen research on the resource and see new processing methods to broaden the product range and increase the value of products.
