Blue Food - Centre for future seafood
Short description
The aim of Blå mat – Centre for Future Seafood is to unlock the enormous potential of producing nutritious food from Swedish waters, thereby making Sweden a leading producer of sustainable seafood.
Blå mat works towards the following vision: "Through innovative circular solutions, increased knowledge, and a stronger market, we aim to create the conditions for long-term, sustainable seafood production and make Sweden a leading producer of attractive and sustainable seafood." A shorter version of the vision is: "Sweden will become a leading supplier of attractive and sustainable seafood."
The centre has been made possible through many years of national collaboration. Blå mat brings together universities, research institutes, companies, regional authorities, and organisations active across the seafood sector.
What we do
Through research and knowledge sharing, we aim to create better conditions for seafood production and increase understanding of seafood. Our research focuses on increasing food production from wild-caught fish and the sustainable cultivation of algae, fish, and other edible aquatic species in circular systems. We develop smart processing methods that transform complex raw materials into new food ingredients and products.
Our research also explores consumer attitudes towards seafood, the impact of seafood on human health, the environmental effects of seafood production, and animal health and welfare in aquaculture systems. In addition, Blue Food addresses regulatory barriers and the planning and management of marine and coastal areas.
Our goals
We aim to:
- Increase food production from fisheries catches and side streams.
- Expand sustainable aquaculture.
- Promote the protein transition with a focus on blue-green protein sources.
- Change consumer behaviour and increase demand for new, sustainable, and nutritious seafood products.
- Increase the availability and diversity of nutritious, Swedish-produced seafood.
- Strengthen society's resilience and food security through blue food production.
Who we are
Blue Food is the largest investment in Swedish seafood research and innovation to date, with SEK 48 million in funding from the Swedish Research Council Formas.
The centre is backed by a national partnership of research and innovation organisations, regions, municipalities, stakeholder organisations, and a large number of companies.
The initiative brings together actors from across the entire seafood value chain—from primary production through sustainable aquaculture systems and underutilised wild fish species, to process and product development, the production of healthy Swedish seafood, and the retail sector.