"Aquaculture, not the Internet, represents the most promising investment opportunity of the 21st Century."
- Peter Drucker, Management Expert & Economist
2014-06-13
Danish seaweed could become an alternative to imported Asian products
The Danish Shellfish Centre at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) has recently provided samples of an innovative, new type of food: edible seaweed grown in the Limfjord.
A team of DTU scientist is determined to produce a Danish alternative to
the imported sheets of seaweed used in the traditional Japanese
cuisine, and they are making considerable headway.
At the beginning of March, the first sheets of Danish sugar kelp were
introduced by Ann Kruse and Ditte Tørring, chef and project manager,
respectively, at the Danish Shellfish Centre, located in Nykøbing on the
island of Mors in the north-western part of Jutland.
Seaweed produced in Denmark could become a future alternative to the
large number of seaweed sheets currently imported mainly from China. But
restaurants could also start adding Danish seaweed to their menu in the
form of fresh seaweed salads or sprinkling on rice paper rolls.
The production of seaweed forms part of the 'Local virtues' project
initiated by the Danish Shellfish Centre in 2010 with the support of the
Business Innovation Fund, the North Denmark Region, Morsø Municipality
and the Association of the Mussel Industry. The project was based on
innovation and change in connection with sustainable utilization of the
western part of the Limfjord, focusing mainly on shellfish and seaweed.
One of the aims of the project was to determine whether it is possible
to grow seaweed, and whether there is a market for seaweed produced in
Denmark in Danish food.
The project has established that it is possible to grow seaweed in
Danish waters-also in the Limfjord-and that there is strong interest in
seaweed produced in Denmark among both food producers and consumers.
The production of seaweed is particularly interesting in the Limfjord as
it constitutes a supplement to current long-line mussel farming.
The peak season for long-line mussel farming is from May to September,
after which the mussels are left undisturbed until the following spring.
And as seaweed is cultivated from September until the following spring,
this leaves mussel farmers with more time to focus on that.
"Seaweed and mussels are an excellent combination, which means that the
current production could be made more cost-effective. That would be a
great accomplishment," says Ditte Tørring from the Danish Shellfish
Centre.
Akvakultur er fisk i kultur! De skal selvfølgelig have det godt og have noget at spise. Du kan fodre fiskene ved at klikke på din mus over fiskedammen!
