Food Industry
Welcome to the forefront of food innovation! In the High Coast region, we combine sustainable practices with cutting-edge technology to create a place where future farmers of all sorts root and grow. Together with the local eco-system of innovation and foodtech we’re exploring new circular solutions and industrial symbioses, turning the High Coast into a hub for sustainable and locally-produced food solutions.
Sustainability & Food Integrity
Sweden’s food system has a strong commitment to sustainability, demonstrated through rigorous animal welfare laws, one of Europe’s lowest rates of antibiotic use, and strict KRAV certification standards that exceed international norms.
Trend-savvy consumers
Swedes are well-informed and quick to adopt new health and sustainability trends. Over 35% of Swedes align with LOHAS-segment, demonstrating a significant impact on market trends towards health and sustainability.
World-class eco-system
With leading foodtech companies like Agtira and Big Akwa merging with innovative research from RISE Processum and Mid Sweden University, Västernorrland is becoming an important player in the future of food.
A high coast company
Agtira
When Agtira (previously Peckas Naturodlingar) started its operations in 2017, the company already possessed extensive experience of aquaponic farming. The innovator Pecka Nygård had over the last 20 years been developing his technology – where fish and tomatoes are grown in a closed cycle – in a small-scale test bed. Today, the business consists of 3 greenhouses with a total area of about 12,000 m2 and is Europe’s largest aquaponic cultivation. 500 tonnes of tomatoes and 40 tonnes of rainbow salmon are grown here annually.
Agtira are now expanding their fish farming to 60 tonnes, but the main focus for the future is not food production. Instead, their top priority is to sell the technological solution and export it to other countries and regions.
DID YOU KNOW that AGTIRA IS THE LARGEST AQUAPONIC IN EUROPE.
A high coast company
Big Akwa
Through the start-up Big Akwa, one of the founders of Agtira tackles the problem of the forest industries’ environmental pollution in an innovative way by establishing a fish farm adjacent to a paper or pulp plant. In the solution, sustainable fish farming constitutes a bio filter that cleans the emissions from the industry which in turn supplies nutrients to the fish farm. In this way, a cleaner marine environment is created.
Big Akwa is currently in the process of opening a large-scale fish farming establishment at Alby industrial site.
A high coast company
Hernö Gin
Hernö Gin is a world-leading producer of artisanal gin. The distillery has won 106 titles in the world’s leading competitions for spirits and is thus the world’s most award-winning gin. For example, Hernö gin was named Gin Producer of the Year in the World and the World’s Best Gin for Gin & Tonic in 2020.
Hernö Gin is currently building a boutique hotel in the High Coast, set to open in the beginning of 2025. Until then, you can visit Hernö Gin Bar in Södermalm, Stockholm.
Did you know that Hernö Gin was elected the world’s best gin for the third time in 2023, making it the most awarded gin in the world.
#1 Disruptive innovation from the region
Fish feed from the forest
At research center RISE Processum, researchers have developed protein from forestry waste material, Now the re-searchers are taking the next step to make fish feed from the single-cell proteins that have so far been produced. The background is that fish farming is expected to become more and more important in the future and the need for fish feed is increasing. With the help of food made from twigs, branches and other waste products from the forest, fish farming will become more environmentally friendly, primarily due to the demand for fish food made from fish and soy flour being reduced.
