Benchmark Genetics opened a new incubation facility in Vogar, Iceland. The new 2,300-m2 facility has an annual production capacity of 300-400 million ova – enough to make 1 million tons of harvested salmon.
The new center holds 10,000 5-liter incubators, each of which matures ova from one female, and it is connected to the company’s existing incubation center, broodstock facility, and harvest station. It gets fresh and clean water from deep boreholes. The biosecurity standards are, as for the other operations in Iceland, at the highest levels of the industry.
An opening ceremony took place on August 23 with Svandís Svavarsdóttir, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, cutting the ribbon on the new facility together with Jónas Jónasson, CEO of Benchmark Genetics Iceland.
“This is a big milestone for Benchmark Genetics Iceland and gives us an opportunity to grow even further. This facility makes us able to produce more quality ova and meet the increased demand in salmon farming,” said Jónasson.
Benchmark Genetics Iceland has 86 employees and is located in 6 different locations besides Vogar.
The company sells ova to 28 countries all over the world and is the only company that is allowed to export eggs to Norway.
