WTL Averøy
Swim into the future of protein production
Protein made from waste.
This is a game changer.
WA3RM and Norwegian company BIO3 are teaming up to develop a protein production facility at NorSea’s Atlantic site in Averøy, Norway.
By using waste streams from agriculture and forest industry and fermentation technology the facility will produce high-quality protein for fish feed. This unlocks a new generation of fish feed that's better for the fish and our planet.
This project is the first one in our collaboration with NorSea Group, aimed at exploiting their infrastructure for new circular industrial projects.
Later this year we will begin to work on the second greenhouse. Paired with Greenhouse 1 this will provide a big boost to Sweden’s domestic production of tomatoes, reaching a total of around 17,000 tonnes of annual production – about every fifth tomato eaten in Sweden.
WTL Averøy
Overview
Waste stream
Molasses*
Application
Protein for fish feed
Production phase I (tn)
30 000
Production phase II (tn)
70 000
Project start
2025
Investment (€)
123
Production start
TBD
*Molasses is one potential waste stream. The facility can use different agricultural and forestry byproducts to produce fungi-based high-quality proteins in high volumes. The project targets the growing demand for sustainable protein and is positioned to serve both domestic and international markets.
BIO3 Rubri rubrik
Operator
Currently, feed account for as 75% of a farmed salmon's carbon footprint, largely due to ingredients shipped across the globe. To change this, Norway has set an ambitious goal—to boost domestic production of sustainable feed ingredients by 500,000 tons by 2034, signaling a shift toward greater self-reliance and lower emissions.
BIO3 work for a responsible, circular food system that makes smarter use of natural resources, land, and energy.
By 2034 the Norwegian fish feed industry will require 500,000 tons of sustainable feed ingredients, aiming to increase sustainable feed sources to 100%.
BIO3 is working to shape a responsible, circular food system that makes smarter use of natural resources, land, and energy—while advancing fish welfare, climate goals, and global food security.
Sources: Aquafeed, Frontiers in Marine Science, Nofima, FAO
75 %
of a farmed salmon's carbon footprint comes from feed.
92 %
Current share of imported raw materials among Norwegian fish feed producers.
1/3
of global CO2-emissions comes from food production
This project is part of NorSea Atlantic. A unique industrial park on the west coast of Norway where unused resources or by-products from one company are used by another and all vital infrastructure is already in place.
By utilizing access to infrastructure, zoned land, power, and water – with the ability to capture and reuse industrial waste streams – we enable rapid development and scalability right from the start. This sketch shows a potential industrial park.
New innovative protein production methods offer a way to meet growing demand with rapidly scalable solutions.
Offering alternatives to current protein sources mitigates nutritional, environmental, and health challenges for both fish, ecological ecosystems and consumers.
Advances in the field enable swift, resource-efficient growth, positioning fermentation as a cost-effective answer to the world’s rising demand of proteins.
All equipment can be brought by sea to the quay 300 m from the site.
Why do we need new proteins?
Growing Population = Growing Demand
By 2050, food demand is estimated to rise by about 50% to 70% compared to current levels. Current systems, particularly animal-based ones, are resource-intensive and cannot sustainably scale to meet this demand. We need to change the way we produce and consume protein.
Environmental Impact
The ecosystems of the planet can’t keep up with humanity’s desire for meat, eggs, dairy, soy and all the other conventional sources of protein. Conventional protein production, especially livestock farming, is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, water use, and biodiversity loss.
Resource Efficiency
Protein sources like beef or soy require vast amounts of water, land, and feed compared to alternative proteins, such as plant-based, microbial, or lab-grown proteins, which use fewer resources.
Food Security and Resilience
Climate change is threatening traditional farming systems by increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. Developing more sustainable protein production methods can help build resilient food systems less dependent on climate-vulnerable agriculture.
Economic Opportunities
The development of new protein technologies opens doors for innovation and economic growth. It creates jobs and investment opportunities in industries like precision fermentation and cellular agriculture.
Means to make it happen
NorSea Atlantic
By utilizing access to infrastructure, zoned land, power, and water – with the ability to capture and reuse industrial waste streams – we enable rapid development and scalability right from the start. This creates truly circular production capacity for valuable commodities like food, nutrients, feed or chemicals.
What is molasses?
Challange
Molasses is a thick, dark syrup that is a byproduct of the sugar production process, primarily from sugarcane or sugar beets. It is created during the extraction and refining of sugar, where the juice is boiled to crystallize the sugar, leaving behind a nutrient-rich, viscous liquid.
Molasses is rich in nutrients like iron, calcium, potassium, and antioxidants, making it useful for food products, animal feed, fertilizers, and biofuels.
Project partners
Welcoming Food Ventures
Operator
The greenhouses in Frövi will be operated by Food Ventures. A global leader in greenhouse growing, specialized in continuously supplying fresh and tasty vegetables, grown sustainably in high-tech greenhouses.
Operators
Scale good ideas without to big risk or climate footprint.
Operators
Scale good ideas without to big risk or climate footprint.
Operators
Scale good ideas without to big risk or climate footprint.
The project site is located in Averøy, Norway
