From a hatchery to the final product: on-land, circular, nutritious, and tasty – this is the way African catfish and tilapia are produced at Gårdsfisk farms, offering an integrated agri-aquaculture farm concept in Sweden.
On August 26th AquaLoop partners, associated partners and stakeholders from all around the South Baltic region had a chance to go to the town of Tollarp, south of Sweden, to visit one of Gårdsfisk contract farmer, where African catfish and Nile tilapia are raised on a commercial scale. The story and the concept of the company was presented to the representatives of five Baltic countries.
So, how did the story begin?
As the Gårdsfisk founders presented, more than 75% of all fish eaten in Sweden is imported, while industrial fishing and conventional fish farming are surrounded by several environmental problems. It is about forage fishing, overfishing, eutrophication, escape and diseases where everything results in an ocean out of balance. This is why Gårdsfisk founders created the concept of integrated farming and aquaculture, where Swedish farmers raise fish on their farms. That way, consumers can continue to eat good fish while at the same time reducing overfishing and the eutrophication of our oceans.
During their upbringing, the fish provide nourishment to the crop that is grown in the field outside the farm, and the side streams are used for biogas – which makes it an almost closed cycle. By combining water and agriculture, Gårdsfisk can make use of a range of different residual products that make the whole thing a win-win – both for Swedish farmers, the animals, nature and not least for us who like to eat fish.
Gårdsfisk system is currently available to a group of Scanian farmers who work daily to raise very sustainable fish. The system is also scalable, which means that Gårdsfisk, together with more farmers, can continue to raise fish, which reduces the burden on our oceans. Today, Gårdsfisk provides fingerlings and fish broodstock (Tilapia and Clarias) around the world for farmers and research centers in 40 countries. Market products such as filets, mince meat, fish balls, and smoked fish are delivered in the whole of Sweden, but the goal is to expend the market. This is why AquaLoop will try to transfer the concept to the Danish market via SupportLoop activities of the project.
It was a great pleasure to participate in the tour! #Gårdsfisk thank you for hosting #AquaLoop and inspiring others!
Source: https://www.gardsfisk.se/
Contact: Pauline LE BERRE: pauline@gardsfisk.se