The laboratories perform a dual role: lab staff assists in project activities, and the labs provide an analysis service. The analysis service is focused on research and commercial requirements in the fields of fish physiology, nutritional research and quality assurance of feed production. Analysis results are used in Nofima's research projects, helping ensure that our staff has a high level of expertise in applied analysis of fish and feeds. The laboratories at Sunndalsøra and Ås complement each other by mainly providing different expertise and services.
Aims of the Nofima laboratories:
- To provide services to various research projects
- To produce results within the timescale specified for the research
- To perform services that are difficult to obtain externally
- To provide scientists with an opportunity to play an active role in developing new techniques and introducing or monitoring advanced methods
Ås laboratory
The laboratory at Ås largely provides services to the institute's in-house research projects. The institute regularly takes on projects relating to new issues, so the range of analysis services provided varies depending on the research programme and current focus areas. It is therefore important for the scientists to be physically present and to have a close working relationship with the lab and the technicians working on the issue.
There are a number of laboratories at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), and several institutions share the Ås campus. We work closely with the Department of Animal Science, with which we jointly own or rent various technical resources. Our laboratories are very flexible, and the range of services and analysis on offer is constantly changing.
Specialities and services
Product quality
Product quality is one of Nofimas focus areas. The way in which the industry currently assesses the quality of fresh fish and processed fish products is very subjective. We are therefore working to develop new methods. As part of this process, it is important for the scientists to enjoy a good dialogue with the laboratories and to have an ongoing insight into the various experiments. Most of the scientists currently working on product quality are based at Ås. We also collaborate with Nofima Mat, which has a sensory department and has developed methods for assessing meat quality. We also have the use of a CT scanner, which we rent from the Department of Animal and Aquaculture Sciences at UMB.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a vital tool for the research conducted at Nofima. Various techniques are used to characterise the genes involved in lipid metabolism, iron metabolism and the coagulation process.
Cell cultivation
Cell experimentation is a technique that can be used in relation to nutrition, product quality and genetic research. It is possible to study how various substrates affect the turnover of nutrients in cells, providing an excellent basis for studying fundamental mechanisms. Testing of various parameters is possible in a cell experiment. This can yield research findings that it would not be financially viable to obtain through experiments on live fish.
Feed technology
An improvement of existing feed technology holds great potential for the industry. We are working to improve expertise in general process technology and in the special requirements of livestock and fish in relation to concentrated feed. We have a high degree of expertise in the analysis of fish feeds.
Lipids
Omega 3 fatty acids, which are present in large quantities in marine lipids, have been found to be beneficial to human health. We had been working for many years on identifying the presence, location and composition of lipids.
Nutrition
There is a great deal of activity in the area of feed ingredient trials, including testing vegetable-based feeds for salmonids and marine species. The laboratory carries out analyses of feeds and feces in connection with measurements of feed intake, and digestibility and preference trials for different feed ingredients.
