Presenting companies: Norwegian Cancer Society | Nufarm Seed Technologies | Skretting | Cermaq | Grieg Seafood ASA | Salmon Group | Earthworm Foundation
Time to embrace GMO?
Guest Speaker:
Sigrid Bratlie
Senior Advisor - Langsikt Policy Centre
Strategic Advisor - Norwegian Cancer Society
Sigrid Bratlie works at the intersection of science, communication, and policy in the field of biotechnology, spanning sectors such as medicine, industry, food systems, and environmental protection. She is currently a Senior Advisor at the Langsikt Policy Centre and a Strategic Advisor to the Norwegian Cancer Society. Previously, she has worked closely with Norwegian agriculture and aquaculture, serving as Project Leader at NCE Heidner Biocluster for bioeconomy and as a member of the GENEinnovate research consortium on genome editing. Sigrid has also worked for the Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board and was a member of Genteknologiutvalget, which delivered a Norwegian Official Report (NOU) to the government in 2023.
In addition to her professional roles, Sigrid is an active science communicator dedicated to raising public awareness about biotechnology’s potential to drive sustainable development and to advocating for evidence-based policymaking. She holds a degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Glasgow and Imperial College London, as well as a PhD from the Institute for Cancer Research at the Norwegian Radium Hospital, for which she was awarded the King’s Gold Medal.
Opening:
Brent Zacharias
Group Executive
Nufarm Seed Technologies
Growing up on a Canadian grain farm in rural Saskatchewan ignited Brent’s life-long passion for agriculture. After completing his degree in agricultural economics from the University of Saskatchewan, Brent started as a sales representative and quickly advanced into canola marketing, novel traits, and healthy oil demand creation roles. Nufarm recruited Brent in 2006 to become the Canadian Commercial Manager; two years later he moved to Australia to lead the company’s new seed technologies business.
Brent has 27+ years of industry experience, as a leader in the global agrifoods business. Under his strategic leadership, Nufarm Seed Technologies has become a global leader with world-class Innovation Centers in each hemisphere, earned seed sales in over 30 countries, and developed R&D programs, advanced trials, and facilities in Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
Panel of industry leaders
Moderator:
Leif Kjetil Skjæveland
Manager of Sustainability and Public Affairs
Skretting
Leif Kjetil Skjæveland is Skretting’s manager for sustainability and public affairs in Norway and is part of the official steering group for the Norwegian government’s mission on sustainable feed. He works extensively with raw material challenges in both the supplier and retail sectors, as well as Skretting’s projects involving novel and circular ingredients. Skjaeveland has a background from scientific writing, journalism and marketing and branding.
Steven Rafferty
CEO
Cermaq
Steven Rafferty has been Cermaq CEO since March 2022. Cermaq is one of the worlds largest salmon producers with operations in Norway, Chile and Canada.
He joined Cermaq in 2008 holding the position as CFO and later COO Farming in Cermaq until 2010. Steven has a broad experience from aquaculture and has been an executive in various global companies with positions in Skretting, Nutreco, and Mowi. Steven has been working in UK, Chile, USA, The Netherlands and Norway during his career.
Andreas Kvame
CEO
Grieg Seafood ASA
Andreas Kvame has been the CEO of Grieg Seafood ASA since 2015. He has international experience from change management and improvements in the aquaculture industry from a number of companies. He has previously worked as CEO of Scanbio AS, and as director of sales and supply at Mowi, where he was also responsible for the integration of Stolt Seafarms, Panfisk, and Fjord Seafood.
Kvame has an educational background in agriculture, aquaculture and business administration.
Christine L. Larsen
Chief Procurement Officer
Salmon Group
Christine joined Salmon Group in January 2023 and heads the company’s procurement and sustainability efforts. She holds a postgraduate degree in International Business from the University of St. Andrews and has spent the majority of her career in the oil and gas industry. She is passionate about risk management, sustainability, human rights, and collaboration across the value chain.
Salmon Group is a network of Norwegian, privately owned salmon and trout farmers. With a yearly volume of approximately 250 000 tonnes, feed is the company’s largest and most important procurement category. For over 20 years the company has managed its own feed recipe – the SG-feed – which is characterized by a low carbon footprint, high marine content, and utilization of novel ingredients.
Marco Custodio
Project Manager
Earthworm Foundation
Marco Custodio is a marine biologist with a PhD in Marine Sciences and a Master’s in Aquaculture, specializing in sustainable aquaculture. As a Project Manager at Earthworm Foundation, he leads initiatives to enhance environmental and social practices in shrimp and salmon supply chains, collaborating with French companies and their sourcing regions. An active contributor to the scientific community, he has published research on aquaculture nutrition, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, and ecosystem services. His efforts bridge science and industry, providing actionable insights that promote sustainability and innovation in aquaculture.
