Raisio - Company Announcement

Raisio and Intellectual Ventures to patent a Finnish fish feed invention in the USA

Raisio plc, Stock Exchange Release 7 January 2014

RAISIO AND INTELLECTUAL VENTURES TO PATENT A FINNISH FISH FEED INVENTION
IN THE USA

Benemilk Ltd, a joint venture of Raisio and Intellectual Ventures (IV), has
filed a United States patent application for a Finnish fish feed invention and
is starting the commercialisation of the invention in the USA. The fish feed
invention was developed by the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute
and the patent application concerns the way fish oil is used in the feed. Fish
oil has traditionally been used in fish feed, but this new invention utilizes
the more  ecological and affordable rapeseed oil. This new formulation
maintains the quality and health benefits of the fish while ensuring that any
resulting products meet consumer needs. 

Raisioagro has been a key partner for the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research
Institute in the development process of the new fish feed and the company has
already begun utilizing the new methodologies outlined in the patent
application. Salmon feeding regimens can incorporate more plant-based
ingredients without reducing the nutritional values of the fish. With this
invention, both the profitability and ecological sustainability of salmon
farming will improve as the use of wild fish oil can be significantly reduced. 

In the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation (Tekes) study coordinated by the
Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, the more expensive and limitedly
available fish oil was primarily replaced by Finnish rapeseed oil in the early
growth stage of salmons. High fish oil content was used only in the final stage
of salmon farming.  Replacing the fish oil with rapeseed oil at the early
growth stage halved the required amount of fish oil. In addition, the health
benefits, growth, processability, shelf life and taste of the fish remained
high. The contaminants in fish products were also further reduced. According to
the study, beneficial fatty acids were found in greater abundance in rapeseed
oil fed salmon than in Finnish wild fish or in imported whitefish. 

At current prices, the use of rapeseed oil as a replacement for the twice as
expensive fish oil significantly improves the supply chain and profitability of
fish farming. Although global fish oil production volumes have so far been
sufficient, the use of rapeseed oil will help reduce the pressure on wild fish
stocks. There is generally more upward pressure on fish oil prices than on
rapeseed oil prices. 

Raisio's CEO Matti Rihko says:  "It is encouraging that once again we will be
able to commercialise Finnish expertise globally. It is also encouraging that
the invention resulted from cooperation between academia and the business
world. The value of the invention can increase in the coming years due to an
expected increase in consumer demand for salmon coupled with an expected
decrease in wild fish stocks, the basis for fish oil production. The invention
is a functional and sustainable solution to improve food chain efficiency,
which is a key challenge and opportunity for the building of the future food
chain.” 

IV co-founder and chief technology officer, Edward Jung, said of the invention:
“This new fish feed invention is an indication of the great potential that the
food and agriculture sector has to tackle global problems while also improving
profitability. This patent application is a practical demonstration that the
joint venture between Raisio and IV can serve as a platform for even wider
cooperation.” 

RAISIO PLC

Heidi Hirvonen
Communications and IR Manager
tel. +358 50 567 3060



Further information:
Matti Rihko, Raisio CEO, tel. +358 400 830 727





Raisio Group briefly

Raisio plc is an international specialist in plant-based nutrition. Raisio's
operations are divided into two divisions: Brands and Raisioagro. The Group's
key market areas are Finland, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Russia,
Ukraine, Poland, Estonia and Sweden. Raisio plc's shares are listed on NASDAQ
OMX Helsinki Ltd. In 2012, the Group's net sales totalled EUR 584 million and
EBIT was EUR 35 million. The Group employs some 1,900 people. Raisio's
best-known brands are Benecol, Honey Monster, Elovena, Fox's, Dormen, Juicee
Gummee, Poppets and Benemilk. 





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www.raisio.com