Thorverk is still ploughing the way for developing a centre for algal research and product development in Reykholar. Friday March 25 the rector for the University of Iceland hosted a meeting. A joint memorandum ffor cooperation was signed. Projects will be formulated and contracts made for each one, hopefully to develop further added value and innovative use of seaweed. Here the Deans, reserach attaché and friends of algal research meet at the rectors office.
Hurray, we all came back after two nights away in Reykjavik. On the Friday everybody sat down to a table of danish open sandwitches. And on the Saturday we went to see Iceland from a birdsey view. Screaming and lifting legs we really enjoyed the scenery.
It is February. On the west coast of Iceland we have experienced cold spells, snowhails and frost. Kelp harvest is soon coming to an end.
Thorverk is very pleased to announce its participation in establishing The Icelandic Centre for Algal Research and Product Development in Reykholar. It's purpose is to enhance research, product development and education focusing on macro-algae, their ecology, growth and harvest, cultivation and uses. This will be done in cooperation with other research institutes and companies.
The Reykhólar-community wants to promote more diverse employment in the area not the least by finding new ways of utilizing the local resources. Therefore increased research and development activities is a good starting point. To reach this goal facilities for new and established residents. Signing the memorandum shows this policy in action, and participation in the establishment of the Centre confirms a strong vision for the village, which was built around the foundation of Thorverk seaweed and kelp drying plant in the 1970s.
The Icelandic Marine and Fresh Water Research Institute oversees the councelling for harvesting seaweed around Iceland. Research is ongoing as described in a report issued in 2019.
We wish you Merry Christmas, we hope the coming year will be prosperous. Remember to waste none and use your feet for travel when possible.
The Thorverk factory belongs to the 2.2% of Icelandic companies that are considered showing outstanding performance. This merit is recieved as a token for shown environmental, safety and economic proficiency.
Resistant chemicals and banned substances are decreasing in the sea around Iceland. Ten institutes participate in monitoring these in an international cooperation. The results show that some biotoxins have decreased during the last decades.
We strive to do better in environmental matters. Plastic is accumulating in the sea. So we avoid using plastic as much as possible. Most of the plastic used in Thorverk are wrappings around paperbags on pallets that are exported. And now we annouce that the wrappings are made of BioZ.
Thorverk strives to impact the natural environment as little as possible. Though geothermal heat is used in the drying process, both the harvesters and collecting ship use diesel engines for their propellers. Therefore a specific joint effort was made on June 9 this spring to plant trees and attempt to sequestrate last year's carbon emissions.
