Nordic Aqua Partners has chosen Benchmark Genetics as genetics supplier

PRESS RELEASE 17.12.20:

Nordic Aqua Partners has chosen Benchmark Genetics as egg supplier to their Ningbo project

Constructions of the Nordic Aqua Partners’ (NAP) land-based facility in Ningbo, China will start in January 2021 and has chosen Benchmark Genetics as their genetics provider signing a five years agreement for 9.5 M ova with the company. First eggs will be delivered from Benchmark’s Icelandic operations already in Q4 2021, as soon as the hatchery facilities are up and running in Ningbo.

Ragnar Joensen, Chairman of the board of NAP, says that they are delighted about having secured their supplies of genetics ahead of the start-up of constructions of the facility in Ningbo, China.

“Benchmark Genetics has a proven record of their ability to supply live eggs all-year-round to destinations worldwide, and security of supply is of key importance to optimize the production planning at our facility”, he says

Joensen explains that the Chinese authorities and consumers are very concerned about food safety and that Benchmark’s biosecure facilities combined with a comprehensive screening system make the company confident that the eggs from Benchmark have the best starting conditions when entering into their RAS system.

"Their R&D capabilities and product offering, adapted for land-based RAS production add to the benefits of signing long term agreement with this provider" Ragnar Joensen, Chairman of the board of Nordic Aquapartners

Geir Olav Melingen, Commercial Director at Benchmark Genetics, is excited about signing yet another contract with a land-based project.

He says: “We aim to be the leading supplier of genetics to land-based farming, wherever located around the globe.”

“We have already supplied eggs to China since 2002 and have established a logistic system that so far has worked successfully, even during the challenging times of Covid-19”, Melingen says.

Nordic Aqua Partner is the first fully integrated and commercially viable RAS facility in China, and the initial capacity is 8.000 MT of Atlantic salmon, with ambitions to expand first to 16.000 MT and further up to 40.000 MT as a longer-term plan.

Benchmark Genetics is prepared to meet the growth of the land-based sector, both in terms of production capacity and customer services.

“We are strong believers in the opportunities of the land-based sector. As a result, we are currently strengthening our organization and continuously working on adapting our product offering to ensure that our customers are well-positioned to meet their targets”, Geir Olav Melingen explains.