On the second day of the Aqua Nor trade fair in Trondheim, Norway, Premium Svensk Lax and Benchmark Genetics signed a delivery agreement for salmon roe for the facility under construction in central Sweden.
The company is the first to have received approval from the Swedish authorities to build a land-based facility for Atlantic salmon. This approval was granted in August last year. The plant, which is designed to produce 10,000 tonnes annually, is scheduled to be in full-scale production in 2024. At that time, salmon will be slaughtered, processed and delivered five days a week for the Swedish market. The goal is to cover 20 per cent of local demand, with opportunities for further growth.
The agreement means that Benchmark, as the exclusive supplier, will deliver genetics from its biosecure facilities in Iceland for a three-year period, with an option for another two years.
“We are in the process of groundwork for the facility in Säffle, and the plan is for us to put the first roe in the hatchery in early 2023. Our goal is to bring locally produced, sustainable and healthy “premium” salmon to the Swedish market. Then we must also be sure that the genetics we put into the plant come from a quality producer who also has a focus on sustainability and biosecurity. I think we have found that at Benchmark Genetics,” said Morten Malle, CEO of Premium Svensk Lax, in a press release.
Geir Olav Melingen, commercial director of Benchmark Genetics, was pleased to have signed another agreement with a land-based project.
“The plant that is now under construction in Värmland is based on an exciting concept where further processing is also an important part of the plans. Sweden is also in a unique position to be able to export salmon freely to a number of countries where Norway is faced with trade restrictions. It opens up opportunities for formidable production growth if Premium Svensk Lax succeeds, and we want to be part of that journey,” said Melingen.
