Interaction between UN SDG associated to the production and consumption value chain of Norwegian salmon farming industry

The Norwegian salmonfarming industry has grown substantially in recent years and has been aneconomic success for investors and society, and the industry is a largesupplier of protein rich food to the global marked.Both... [ view full abstract ]

The Norwegian salmonfarming industry has grown substantially in recent years and has been aneconomic success for investors and society, and the industry is a largesupplier of protein rich food to the global marked.Both government and industryhave indicated that they plan to quintuple production the next 30 years. Thequestion is whether Norwegian farmed fish in such volume and dimensions can besustainable, and how can this food industry be connected to UN SDGs in aNorwegian and global scale? The study explores and analyses SDG interactionaccording to methodology from International Council for Science (ICSU Eds: D.J.Griggs et al. 2017). “A guide to SDG Interactions: From Science to Interaction”by following supply and value chain of the production and marked system. The valuechain includes production of fodder from primary production in severalcontinents and affection of vulnerable terrestrial ecosystems, oceans andmarine ecosystems. Further, production of salmon in cages, environmentalimpacts on fjords and coastal waters from feces and organic residues. Theproduction also includes risk of spreading parasites and fish diseases, genetic mixing, displacement and threats of wild salmon stocks in Norwegianrivers. The onshore industrial part includes slaughter and production of fish product, export andtransport of fish (air, roads and ships) from the coast of Norway to the globalmarked. Fish export also demand a huge number of fish packing boxes (EPS, EPP,foam plastic). All this large and complicated industry affects many of the SDGtargets. In addition is also adaptive cycles used as analytic tool to integratedconnectedness and the potential between the most important ecological, economicand production features of the value chains. The study identify features andphases for improvement of ecological and societal sustainability based on aconcept for mediating and negotiating interests between different actors andstakeholders connected to the production system