"This is an important milestone for us, given the facility construction in Fauske just began this spring. Back then, we sowed the seeds for watercress, radish, broccoli, and borage, which we have been delivering to clients ever since six days ago," says Marius Johansen, Founder and Co-owner of Grønt Fra Laks (GFL).
The start-up company, Grønt Fra Laks, uses sludge from salmon farming to grow sprouts, herbs, lettuce, and mushrooms. This week, the first 150 boxes of microgreens were delivered to customers, such as Bama and Havila Coastal Route, from their brand-new growing facility in Fauske.
Available in shops and served in restaurants, the green garnish is sold from Mo i Rana in the south to Finnmark in the north and soon will be available in more regions, given there are plans for a new growing facility in Fauske.
Starting in 2021, Marius Johnsen pondered how salmon sludge could be used for something useful instead of just being a problem. He presented the idea of using the nutrients from the salmon sludge to grow plants for Kvarøy Fish Farming, and after trial and error with several types of plants and production methods, the breakthrough came. The green facility at Kvarøy started up in July 2021, and now the facility in Fauske is also in full swing.
720,000 units of lettuce
From October onward, Grønt Fra Laks will add more growing facilities in Fauske and Kvarøy that will allow them to produce 4 million units of lettuce and 100,000 boxes of microgreens annually. There is still not enough to fully meet the demand for environmentally friendly green foods in the region, so the potential is huge. This start-up company with a smart concept for growth is attracting attention both here in Norway and abroad.
For more information:
Marius Johansen
Grønt fra Laks AS
Tel.: +47 900 20 79
[email protected]
www.grontfralaks.no