Breeding for the future with genomic precision
We expect aquaculture to produce a much higher proportion of the food the world’s population will need for the future. We are supporting the industry to rise to this challenge by producing better performing animals in terms of growth, robustness and feed conversion. At the same time, we are working on ensuring sustainability, and animal health and welfare.
Our genetic programmes are carefully balancing selection by identifying and selecting the purest, fittest animals and magnify their genetic strengths. Thanks to a growing adaptation of advanced breeding technologies, aquaculture is about to make yet another leap forward – and we are at the forefront of this development.
Products and Services
Eggs/hatchery stage/breeding animals
- Atlantic salmon – Norway, Iceland, Chile
- Coho salmon – Chile
- Rainbow trout – Chile
- Tilapia
- Shrimp
- Lumpfish
Capacity and Capabilities
R&D expertise
In recognition of our competence base, we are routinely involved in high level R&D projects in relevant technical and scientific fields, in collaboration with leading national and international research groups.
New knowledge gained from these projects are directly implemented in our in-house breeding programmes, enabling us to be in the forefront of product development.
Long-term breeding and latest genomic tools
Benchmark Genetics is the leading company in breeding and genetics for aquaculture. Our strategy is innovation led, making use of modern breeding technologies such as QTL and Genomic Selection.
- Salmon Producing fast-growing and robust Atlantic salmon ova every week of the year. Currently offering a range of 8 genomic traits for improved disease resistance and shorter production cycle.
- Tilapia One of only a few independent Tilapia breeding companies in the world, distributing the Spring-Tilapia® fingerlings and juveniles to grow-out farmers all over the Americas. Implementing Genomic selection for Streptococcus Iniae and Streptococcus Agalactiae as the first tilapia breeding programme.
- L. Vannamei Shrimp Our world-leading, South American L. Vannamei shrimp breeding programme produces shrimp with high levels of resistance to some of the major diseases affecting the shrimp industry worldwide, such as WSS and AHPND.
Bio-secure facilities: Iceland, Norway and Chile
Our systems and farming environments ensures no contact with wild fish and holds the highest levels of biosecurity in the industry.
In Iceland, we have been farming broodstock for full cycle land based production since 1991. Our modern land based facility in Chaicas, Chile was opened in 2013 and we are soon to open a state-of-the-art land based broodstock and stripping facility in Salten, Norway. This makes us a leader within biosecurity, securing the best farming conditions with entirely controlled settings, and enable us to incubate and deliver Atlantic salmon ova every week of the year.
