Akvaforsk Genetics. The Norwegians understood decades ago that nature itself provides the best foundation for growth

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1 Akvaforsk Genetics The Norwegians understood decades ago that nature itself provides the best foundation for growth

2 We select the best performing animals and magnify their genetic strengths from generation to generation. Just like nature does. Dr. Morten Rye Managing Director, Akvaforsk Genetics Image: Sunndal, Norway

3 BENCHMARK BREEDING & GENETICS We all expect aquaculture to produce the food we need for tomorrow. Benchmark Breeding & Genetics believes it can help the industry rise to this challenge by producing better performing animals with regards to growth, robustness and feed conversion, and at the same time ensure sustainability and animal health and welfare. Simplified, we know how to identify and select the purest, fittest animals and magnify their genetic strengths through carefully balanced selection. Akvaforsk Genetics, the scientific headquarters of Benchmark s global approach to genetic improvement, is based in Sunndal, Norway. Founded in 1999 as a spin-off of Norway s leading Institute of Aquaculture Research (now a part of the research organization NOFIMA), Akvaforsk Genetics is at the heart of where the modern aquaculture industry originated. Here, amidst almost untouched mountains, valleys and rivers, is where people once lay the foundations of a thriving salmon industry even today a solid example of long-term successful entrepreneurship in aquaculture. FOOD FOR THE FUTURE LET S DO THE MATH 50% 30% In order to meet the global demand, the world food production will have to grow by 50% in the next 10 to 15 years. This challenge can be met only through higher production and improved production efficiency, in aquaculture rather than in agriculture. In aquaculture alone, a production growth of 30% can be achieved without physical expansion of the farming infrastructure. By optimizing the natural process of genetic selection, we can produce faster growing and more robust animals.

4 WHAT WE DO We breed resilient animals that are better adapted to challenging farming conditions, using the mechanisms of nature s own selection. WHAT WE OFFER We offer the full range of services required for the selective breeding of aquaculture species, focused on each client s needs and goals. As a powerful and continuous improvement on working with wild stocks or production stocks kept only for a few generations, long-term selective breeding programs result in higher yielding stocks. Through carefully balanced selective breeding we obtain gradual improvements in desired genetic qualities such as growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, sexual maturation, carcass quality, body shape, disease resistance, salinity and temperature tolerance. The pioneering breeding work in Norwegian salmon culture has resulted in phenomenal improvements in production efficiency over the past two decades. Akvaforsk Genetics has actively transferred this knowledge to other commercially interesting species worldwide. Today we have extensive experience from design and operation of well-designed breeding programs for fish and crustaceans across Europe, Asia and the Americas. Currently more than 25 programs in 15 different countries and 15 different species have benefited from our advanced knowledge and experience. 15% accumulative gain per generation The fascinating thing about genetic science is that it brings mathematical accuracy and predictability into the selection process. With accumulative gains thanks to the transfer of favourable alleles from generation to generation, our work in species such as tilapia has demonstrated gains in the range of 15% per generation for growth, leading to substantial parallel improvements in feed conversion efficiency. Design and setup Akvaforsk Genetics specialists evaluate our clients current broodstock management and identify opportunities for ambitious, yet realistic, selective breeding programs based on the available infrastructure and resources. Implementation We offer a full range of technical services and support for program implementation and operation. We design operational protocols, performance testing schemes and facilitate on-site training sessions and workshops for staff members. Datacrunching With state-of-the art software and databases we utilize large amounts of performance and pedigree data to select best breeders and achieve genetic gain, as well as careful inbreeding control. Detailed documentation of genetic changes is a key part of our standard deliveries. To find out more visit: akvaforskgenetics.com/what-we-do Benchmark Breeding & Genetics 07

5 THE BENCHMARK VISION Making return on investment is not just good science, it is good economy. By improving performance from generation to generation, we are able to produce better food for more people. What breeding and genetics actually contributes to sustainable aquaculture, is that it combines a scientist s dreams with those of a modern businessman. It optimizes and predicts the culture lifecycle s outcome with a high degree of mathematical accuracy. The input of eggs from genetically improved stocks will always lead to a biomass yield within the desired production time and with all of the desired features both in quality and in quantity. Improved and more profitable end product Setting up breeding programs with selected individuals based on the right genetic make-up will have a direct impact on the offspring s growth performance with, depending on operational objectives, shorter production cycles or increased biomass as a final result. Lower risk and improved animal welfare Well-balanced breeding programs are set-up aiming not only for short-term gain, but for long-term genetic improvement targeting a comprehensive set of traits. Reducing the risk of diseases and mortality is as desirable a result as improved production per se. The ability to build better performing and more efficient aquaculture production lifecycles based on favourable genetic strains, is likely to drastically increase global seafood production capacity over the years and decades to come. This will allow our industry to produce the volumes required to meet the global food protein demand without compromising health, food safety and nutritional value. Benchmark Breeding & Genetics: make or buy Clearly not every aquaculture business has the ambition or the resources required to implement its own breeding program. In fact, for some companies it is better not to. That is why Benchmark Breeding & Genetics also offers a range of eggs or juveniles directly from our self-operated programs for key species around the world. Akvaforsk Genetics sister companies such as SalmoBreed (Norway) and StofnFiskur (Iceland) for Atlantic salmon, Spring Genetics (US) for tilapia, and Spring Genetica (Colombia) for shrimp offer this pragmatic choice to businesses who want to benefit from genetic improvement without having to invest on an operational level. Benchmark Breeding & Genetics 09

6 CASE STUDY MARINE HARVEST Within the assembly of premium aquaculture players to which Akvaforsk Genetics provides its genetics services, Norwegian salmon producer Marine Harvest is a name that stands out. It is a brand that resonates the vision, scale and dedication to purity needed to set the tone in the industry. As Norway s (indeed the world s) leading Atlantic salmon producer, Marine Harvest is well known for taking the lead in many innovations and breakthroughs.

7 CASE STUDY MARINE HARVEST Investing in breeding and genetics is a strategic choice that will drastically improve our business. Petter Arnesen Breeding Director, Marine Harvest Norway has been the cradle of modern aquaculture and a true pioneer in optimizing the selective breeding process. Petter Arnesen Breeding Director, Marine Harvest Given Norway s reputation as the epicenter of global aquaculture and our leading role as the biggest producer in the Nordic area, the world s eyes are often upon us to set ever new standards in sustainably successful aquaculture operations, says Petter Arnesen, breeding director at Marine Harvest. This is a responsibility we take very seriously. Strategic competitive advantage Next to new technologies such as offshore cage systems to increase coastal farming capacity, Marine Harvest recognizes genetic improvement as a critical strategic growth domain in the aquaculture industry. This is why when it came down to the make or buy decision we decided to develop and deploy our own full-scale selective breeding program, says Petter Arnesen. Arnesen is confident that sustained efforts in broodstock management and selective breeding will reinforce Marine Harvest s business. By producing faster growing and more robust animals throughout its operations, the company aims to increase production volumes, improve cost-efficiency and shorten its production lifecycles. Benchmark Breeding & Genetics 13

8 ABOUT MARINE HARVEST Marine Harvest ASA is one of the largest seafood companies in the world, and the world s largest producer of Atlantic salmon. The company employs 11,700 people, and is represented in 24 countries. Marine Harvest supplies salmon and processed seafood to more than 70 markets worldwide. The company is present and trusted in all major salmon farming regions in the world. In 2015 harvest volumes of salmon was 420,000 tonnes (GWE). Thanks to a growing adoption of advanced breeding technologies, aquaculture is about to make yet another leap forward.

9 Adding value to the natural lifecycle with advanced scientific expertise. Benchmark Holdings serves its customers globally with the industry s most comprehensive portfolios in advanced solutions for sustainable aquaculture. Our activities can be roughly categorized in four advanced fields of expertise, which we selectively deploy in those specific stages of the aquaculture lifecycle where they can bring the highest added value. These are: Setting a new benchmark for sustainable living, starting with food production. Genetics The effective use of selective breeding with genetically improved stocks is a key success factor for sustainable aquaculture. With the design and implementation of well-balanced breeding programs and a steady supply of genetically improved eggs and juveniles, we offer paths to genetic gain tailored to each of our clients requirements. Nutrition Our advanced fish and shrimp feed solutions balance the need for live feed with the reality of limited natural resources. By optimizing our clients ability to find this balance while maintaining their productivity and profitability, we help them establish healthy businesses in today s bio-economy. Health Continuity in performance requires solid risk prevention and control from hatchery to harvest. Threats to the yield such as disease, deformations, reduced growth rate and mortality can be reduced or even eliminated with preventive and curative solutions such as accurate diagnostics, vaccines, feed additives and probiotics. Environment Animals are most likely to thrive when their living conditions are stable, healthy and uncompromised by harmful substances and germs. We offer the right solutions for pond bottom management, water cleansing, microbial and algal management, biofilm control. All of our products come with expert advice to ensure the correct application. benchmarkplc.com