Veramaris marked a milestone by reaching record production volumes in 2023, contributing to the supply of alternative sources of omega-3 EPA and DHA for aquafeed. The company has been at the forefront of addressing the market's growing need for sustainable omega-3 EPA and DHA, which has risen in parallel with the global trend toward greater demand for aquaculture and healthy seafood.
"2023 marks a pivotal year for Veramaris, as we not only achieved a record increase in production volumes but also solidified our market position. We are now poised to scale up sustainably, streamlining our production processes and forging new partnerships," said Veramaris CEO Gertjan de Koning.
As set out in the company’s new sustainable development report, this significant growth in output was achieved with only a marginal increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Veramaris reported only a 3% rise in total greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating its progress in decarbonizing its operations. This commitment to sustainability is further evidenced by the recent registration of a 27% lower product carbon footprint, reflecting the company's ongoing efforts across multiple initiatives to simultaneously decarbonize and improve the efficiency of its operations.
To decarbonize its operations, the company has been working on two main drivers, its corn supply and its energy use. Veramaris’ production facility benefits from its strategic location in Nebraska, enabling direct access to locally produced corn, a source of dextrose and an essential substrate for its fermentation process. The production of raw materials like dextrose constitutes the largest share of Veramaris’ carbon footprint, categorized under Scope 3 emissions. Veramaris sources 100% of our dextrose from Cargill and recently joined Cargill’s RegenConnect program, which promotes regenerative agricultural practice which is expected to have an impact on Scope 3 emissions. In terms of energy use, in 2023, the company reduced specific steam usage by 50% and specific electricity usage by 25%, with more improvements in the pipeline.
Veramaris’ new sustainable development report summarizes its achievements in 2023, new targets and more details about the company’s sustainability-related partnerships. The full report is available here.
