History
Akvaforsk Genetics Established
Akvaforsk Genetics Center (AFGC) was established as a separate company, as a spin off from the Institute for Aquaculture Research (formerly Akvaforsk, now a part of the Norwegian research organization NOFIMA).
The new company’s mission was to develop and provide specialized genetic improvement services to aquaculture industries worldwide.
SalmoBreed AS founded
AFGC was one of three founders of SalmoBreed AS, today a leading breeding company for Atlantic salmon and a sister company of Akvaforsk Genetics in the Benchmark Breeding and Genetics Division.
AFGC was contracted to design and implement the world’s first family based breeding programs for sea bass and sea bream for a partner in Greece.
Rapid Expansion
AFGC rapidly expanded activities and staff. Contracted for design and service to breeding programs for a number of fish and crustacean species in Asia, Europe and the Americas, including tilapias and marine shrimp.
Akvaforsk Genetics sold to VESO
AFGC was sold to Veterinærmedisinsk Oppdragssenter AS (VESO) in preparation of the merger of the Institute for Aquaculture Research (AKVAFORSK) with several other Norwegian research organizations to form NOFIMA (Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research).
AFGC and VESO had significant synergies, in particular related to genetic improvement of specific disease resistance based on controlled challenge testing.
New Technologies
AFGC continued to develop new technologies and improved breeding programs for the majority of commercially important aquaculture species globally, with increased focus on selection for improved resistance to disease and robustness.
Developed large scale databases for hosting critical pedigree and phenotypic performance data on behalf of major clients, structured for efficient genetic evaluations and documentation.
Spring Genetics Established
AFGC established Spring Genetics, a US based breeding company for Nile tilapia for supply of genetically improved seed to the tilapia sector in the Americas.
High-level R&D projects
Continued significant R&D activities as partner in national and international high-level R&D projects, in addition to in-house R&D preparing for implementation of molecular information in breeding value estimations and selection.
Implemented marker assisted selection for improved disease resistance in breeding programs for Atlantic salmon. Extended data hosting to include genomic information.
R&D concessions for Atlantic salmon
Continued significant R&D activities as partner in national and international high-level R&D projects, in addition to in-house R&D preparing for implementation of molecular information in breeding value estimations and selection.
Benchmark PLC
AFGC acquired by Benchmark Holdings, the world leading services company for sustainable food production serving customers in more than 70 countries across six continents.
Implemented genomic selection for improved disease resistance in Atlantic salmon (SalmoBreed), and selection for improved resistance to Streptococcus spp. in Nile tilapia (Spring Genetics).
