OCC Finalist Spotlight – Meet SolVinge!

We are excited to introduce the next finalist of the 2025 Ocean Community Challenge: SolVinge!

Based in Sweden, this start-up is thinking outside the box by producing high-protein aquafeed from brewery waste. Their circular aquaculture solution tackles waste reduction while offering a sustainable alternative to traditional fishmeal.

Let’s dive into how this innovation works! 🍺🐟🪰

The aquaculture industry is growing rapidly to meet global protein demands, but its heavy reliance on wild-caught fish for fishmeal is increasingly unsustainable. In Sweden alone, over 120,000 tonnes of pelagic fish are harvested annually for fishmeal and wet feed, putting marine ecosystems under pressure and threatening the long-term viability of the seafood supply chain.

At the same time, Sweden’s vibrant brewing industry produces more than 4.1 million hectolitres of beer each year, generating large volumes of brewer’s spent grain (BSG), a nutrient-rich byproduct that is often discarded or underused. This waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation while incurring disposal costs.

That’s where SolVinge steps in. Their innovative model transforms brewery waste into sustainable fish feed through a two-stage bioconversion process: Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) first break down the waste, converting it into high-protein insect biomass, while filamentous fungi are then used to further enhance the nutritional quality of the remaining material. This combined approach not only diverts waste from landfills but also produces a scalable, cost-effective, and circular alternative to traditional fishmeal.

We’re proud to support SolVinge as they redefine aquaculture and brewing through innovative and circular thinking. 🍺♻️🐟

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