Greentech Innovators has developed a new and innovative solution to support food waste management. Through the use of biotechnology, the company aims to reduce CO2 emissions and increase global food production
The founder of the Norwegian company Greentech Innovators, Ingmar Høgøy, has more than 30 years of experience developing circular solutions for the aquaculture industry. He started fish farming at the age of 12. He later became interested in circular solutions while working at a salmon processing plant, where he saw there was no waste management solution for the viscera and cuttings. He realized that the waste contained high-quality protein and omega-3 oils. Subsequently, he got a position in a pioneer company and contributed to establishing a solution to produce fish protein concentrate as a high-value feed ingredient for animals.
Later in his career, he participated in the development of fish protein concentrate from wild fish. He documented that this concentrate was an excellent feed ingredient for salmon. Additionally, he developed fish protein powder and collagen for human consumption. The fish powder was found to be excellent for malnourished people.
A sustainable solution to food waste management
Most of the side streams from aquaculture and fisheries in Norway are utilized, and they are no longer called waste. Processing side streams has become a profitable and sustainable business.
The background and idea of utilizing food waste originated years ago while Ingmar was driving to work. On his commute, he frequently encountered truckloads of food waste being transported to a smoky incineration plant. This led him to realize that food waste is a global issue with significant potential for value creation. He wanted to use his experience to find sustainable solutions for extracting valuable nutrients from food waste.
Greentech Innovators was established in 2018 to develop a more sustainable solution to organic waste, such as food waste. After six years of development, the new circular solution is ready to be scaled internationally.
Supporting circular waste management globally
The dedicated team at Greentech Innovators aims to scale its solution globally and is looking for partnerships with local waste companies. This solution will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase global food production, and support the government’s goals for more circular waste management.
A third of the food produced is wasted, totalling 2.5 billion tons per year. Traditional waste management solutions like landfills, incineration, composting, and biogas pollute water and air and are responsible for 9% of CO2 emissions. Landfills emit 11% of global methane emissions – a greenhouse gas 70 times stronger than CO2.
The utilization of urban or mixed household waste has historically posed a challenge, as it is viewed as a diverse mix of materials. However, with a newly developed solution, mixed household waste can now be used to produce a more valuable end product. Through the use of biotechnology, waste is converted into growth media for fermenting algae that are rich in omega-3 oils and protein. This newly developed product has been proven to be excellent for fermenting microalgae and has yielded results at least as good as traditional growth media based on glucose.
The dominating omega-3 source is fish oil, but due to overfishing, fish oil production cannot increase. With this new solution, feed companies will be offered a sustainable alternative for protein and omega-3, substituting fish oil.
Greentech innovators have gained significant traction recently and are now participating in the Startup Bootcamp in Australia, Food Tech FI 24, as one of the top ten Food Tech companies, chosen from among more than a thousand companies globally. The company and its founder have also received several awards for their long-term work and contribution to more circular solutions.
Governments and international organizations have ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop more sustainable, circular solutions. Greentech innovators have developed a solution that can help achieve these goals and support the UN’s SDGs including no.2, Zero Hunger, no. 9, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, no. 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, no.13, Climate Action, and no. 14, Life Below Water.
