Norway aquaculture industry addresses sustainability and GMO feed policies

Stakeholders in the Norwegian aquaculture industry are addressing the challenges of sustainable transition and regulatory frameworks. At the Arendalsuka forum, representatives from the Veterinary Institute, the Institute of Marine Research, and the University of Stavanger will discuss barriers to implementing scientific knowledge and the need for predictable regulatory conditions to support industry growth.

Simultaneously, the Norwegian government is considering a policy that would allow genetically modified organism (GMO) raw materials to be used in fish feed, while excluding them from land-based livestock feed. The environmental organization Bellona has criticized this distinction as artificial, arguing that if the raw materials are scientifically proven safe for fish, there is no technical reason to prohibit their use in feed for land animals like poultry or cattle. Bellona suggests that allowing EU-approved GMO feed could strengthen food system resilience against climate change.