Mitsubishi Corporation invests in sustainable aquaculture – Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) recently announced a significant interest in the aquaculture sector through an investment in Finnforel, a Finnish company specialising in trout production. The investment is intended to support the company’s international expansion by specialising in fish production using recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and to strengthen sustainable farming practices on a global scale.
Finnforel is known for its production capacity of around 3,000 tonnes of trout per year. The company’s goal is to further develop its gigafactory model, which combines trout farming with on-site processing and packaging, significantly reducing transport time and also the environmental impact throughout the supply chain.
According to Pekka A Viljakainen, CEO and co-founder of Finnforel, Mitsubishi’s investment represents a crucial step in the global rollout of RAS technologies.
Viljakainen said: ‘Our mission is to protect the seas and feed the planet. To achieve this, we need strategic partners to help us spread our technological know-how internationally. We are very proud to partner with Mitsubishi, which supports us with global resources and distribution channels.’
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) emphasises the importance of aquatic foods in the global diet, accounting for 15% of animal protein consumption. In 2021, global per capita consumption of seafood reached 20.6 kilograms, a figure set to increase by 12% by 2032.
Akihiko Soga, COO of MC’s marine products division, expressed enthusiasm for the investment:
‘We are happy to support Finnforel on its journey towards sustainable protein sourcing. Their gigafactory concept, which manages the entire production cycle from farming to processing, is in line with our goals of sustainability and innovation in food sourcing.’
Through this collaboration, Finnforel and Mitsubishi aim to strengthen global food security and promote more efficient and environmentally friendly fish production.
Mitsubishi Corporation invests in sustainable aquaculture
