Benchmark Genetics wins Ningbo contract

Benchmark Genetics has been awarded a five-year contract to supply eggs to Nordic Aqua Partners’ massive land-based salmon farm in Ningbo, China.
Construction on the Nordic Aqua Partners’ (NAP) site at Ningbo begins next month. Using RAS (recirculating aquaculture system) technology, the farm will have an initial capacity of 8,000 tonnes annually, but it is planned to increase this to 16,000 and then 40,000 tonnes. It will be the first fully integrated and commercially viable RAS facility in China.
Ningbo is a coastal city, strategically close to Shanghai and with a population of 7.6 million in the city and surrounding area. The port of Ningbo-Zhoushan is one of the busiest in the world.
Benchmark has committed to provide 9.5 million ova, from its site in Iceland. NAP says biosecurity is a key issue for the Chinese government, and Benchmark’s biosecure facilities combined with a comprehensive screening system make the company confident that the eggs from Benchmark have the best starting conditions when entering into their RAS system.
Ragnar Joensen, Chairman of the board of NAP, said: “Benchmark Genetics has a proven record of their ability to supply live eggs all-year-round to destinations worldwide, and security of supply is of key importance to optimize the production planning at our facility. Their R&D capabilities and product offering, adapted for land-based RAS production add to the benefits of signing long term agreement with this provider.”
Geir Olav Melingen, Commercial Director at Benchmark Genetics, said he was excited about signing another contract with a land-based project, adding: “We aim to be the leading supplier of genetics to land-based farming, wherever located around the globe.
“We have already supplied eggs to China since 2002 and have established a logistic system that so far has worked successfully, even during the challenging times of Covid-19.”