Realizing the full potential of krill processing side streams in sustainable health-promoting ingredients (RealKrill)

Aker Biomarine (AKBM) is a Norwegian fishery- and biotechnology company with a vision to improve human and planetary health. The company currently harvests and produce krill-derived products into three main verticals: feed for aquaculture, feed for pets and a human supplement omega 3 phospholipid-rich oil. The core process for AKBM omega-3 oil production results in a side stream defatted krill meal, currently sold as a low-value aquaculture feed ingredient. AKBM has been developing a mild process built on enzymatic protein hydrolysis resulting in a krill protein isolate ingredient. AKBM is in the process of building a pilot production plant & innovation center in Ski (Norway), estimated to be functional in mid-2023. AKBM has seen the potential to move beyond the nutritionally existing excellent protein isolate ingredient targeted for the food supplement market, towards the development of a new set of products exhibiting an even more attractive marketable feature, namely bioactivity. This project revolves around the development of these potential bioactive ingredients for foods and beverages with health benefits beyond their nutritional value, creating so-called functional foods and beverages. The project is closely aligned with AKBM’s mission to achieving several of the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDG). Accelerating adoption of new health promoting marine ingredients, will reduce dependency on land-based ingredients, promote societal health and support conservation of oceans.

Aker Biomarine (AKBM) is a Norwegian fishery- and biotechnology company with a vision to improve human and planetary health. The company currently harvests and produce krill-derived products into three main verticals: feed for aquaculture, feed for pets and a human supplement omega 3 phospholipid-rich oil. The core process for AKBM omega-3 oil production results in a side stream defatted krill meal, currently sold as a low-value aquaculture feed ingredient. AKBM has been developing a mild process built on enzymatic protein hydrolysis resulting in a krill protein isolate ingredient. AKBM is in the process of building a pilot production plant & innovation center in Ski (Norway), estimated to be functional in mid-2023. AKBM has seen the potential to move beyond the nutritionally existing excellent protein isolate ingredient targeted for the food supplement market, towards the development of a new set of products exhibiting an even more attractive marketable feature, namely bioactivity. This project revolves around the development of these potential bioactive ingredients for foods and beverages with health benefits beyond their nutritional value, creating so-called functional foods and beverages. The project is closely aligned with AKBM’s mission to achieving several of the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDG). Accelerating adoption of new health promoting marine ingredients, will reduce dependency on land-based ingredients, promote societal health and support conservation of oceans.