Biorefinery specialist Biomega has appointed Åse-Lill Helgesen as its new product manager to oversee its flagship salmon products in human nutrition, pet food and aquaculture across its facilities in Skaganeset, Norway, and Hirtshals, Denmark.
Helgesen joins Biomega after working as a product development engineer in the innovation and R&D department at GC Rieber Compact AS – a leading company in the humanitarian and maritime sector, which produces high quality food products for emergency relief.
With a Master of Engineering in Chemistry and biotechnology from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, she has more than 20 years of experience in product management and business development. Helgesen previously worked at Reinertsen AS, experienced in providing engineering solutions for the oil and gas industries, and in the food industry at Norgesmøllene AS, a flour and grain milling company.
Biomega CSO Bjørn Liaset said Helgesen’s wealth of experience in product innovation will be pivotal to championing the success of the company’s SalMe Peptides for the human health and nutrition market and its Salmigo range of proteins and oils for the pet food and aquaculture markets across Europe, North America and Asia.
“As Biomega continues to develop its processes in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, reducing our energy consumption and impact on the environment is a major driver for our sustainability vision. Åse-Lill’s breadth of knowledge from both the food and oil and gas industries will be hugely beneficial to the Biomega research and development teams in Norway and Denmark as we look to improve our environmental credentials at both plant facilities.”
The company, which uses its patented technology process, continuous enzymatic hydrolysis to produce the SalMe and Salmigo product ranges, is currently developing new formulation samples for health and nutrition brand manufacturers. The appointment of the new product manager will take responsibility of this project going forward.
“It’s an exciting time to join the Biomega team, especially with the work they are conducting with the European Commission as part of the LIFE programme with LIFE Conquer, to sustainably exploit the side stream of the salmon processing industry. Having worked with humanitarian partners in my previous role, it’s deeply gratifying to know that my role at Biomega can aid in transforming the maritime industry from its linear processes into those that are circular – and I cannot wait to get started,” Helgesen said.
