AquaGen AS
AquaGen AS is a Norwegian aquaculture genetics company that develops and sells fertilized Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout eggs to commercial fish farmers, operating the world's oldest scientific breeding program (since 1971) with genomic selection across facilities in Norway, Scotland and Chile.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersTrondheim, Norway
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What AquaGen AS does
AquaGen AS is a Norwegian aquaculture genetics company that develops, produces, and sells fertilized fish eggs (rogn) and broodstock services to commercial salmon and trout farmers globally. The company operates the world's oldest scientific breeding program for Atlantic salmon (since 1971) and the only scientifically managed rainbow trout breeding program (since 1968), collectively branded as "the Norwegian Code" (Den norske koden). Through 13 generations of salmon and 17 generations of rainbow trout, the company maintains a large-scale genomic breeding program using 70,000 genetic markers (SNPs) across 1,000 salmon families monitoring 20+ traits. The product portfolio includes the GEN-innOva® family of Atlantic salmon eggs (GAIN for high performance, SHIELD for disease resistance, CMS Edge for cardiomyopathy syndrome resistance), TERRA-nOva® LAND for land-based (RAS) aquaculture, and OCEANQUEEN® rainbow trout products. Major disease-resistance traits include IPN, PD, CMS, and HSMB.
AquaGen operates high-tech production facilities across Norway, Scotland, and Chile. The flagship Profunda facility in Barstadvik, Ørsta, is the only land-based salmon roe facility in Norway with WOAH status and EU export approval (September 2025), producing approximately 80 million pathogen-free eggs per year. Additional Norwegian facilities include Kyrksæterøra (Heim, the original 1985 breeding station), Tingvoll, and Steigen, plus a research center at NMBU in Ås. International operations include AquaGen Scotland Ltd in Holywood, Dumfries (Scottish market, Atlantic salmon and trout) and Aquagen Chile in Puerto Varas (coho salmon, Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout). The company owns and operates Nordnorsk Stamfisk, which produces rogn for half of all farmed salmon in Northern Norway (~1.6 billion meals annually).
AquaGen is 100% owned by EW Group, a family-owned strategic holding company with 12,500 employees across 160 subsidiaries in more than 30 countries. The business model is B2B enterprise sales via direct sales teams with multi-year contracts and key-account management (e.g., a 3-year Norway Royal Salmon agreement worth over 100 million NOK). The company is undergoing a 2025-2026 restructuring with a newly created Group CEO position, with Tom Eirik Aasjord (former CEO of Nova Sea) appointed effective January 1, 2026. Active research programs include the RISE CRISPR gene-editing project for sea lice resistance (10 million NOK Norwegian Research Council funding, 2025-2028) and ongoing QTL discovery work with NMBU and the Institute of Marine Research.
AquaGen AS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AquaGen AS
- Legal name
- AquaGen AS
- Website
- https://aquagen.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- AquaGen AS is a Norwegian aquaculture genetics company that develops and sells fertilized Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout eggs to commercial fish farmers, operating the world's oldest scientific breeding program (since 1971) with genomic selection across facilities in Norway, Scotland and Chile.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AquaGen AS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aquaculture Genetics
- NAICS
- Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511), Aquaculture (1125)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aquaculture Breeding & Genetics Services (e.g., broodstock improvement) (AFAEAJAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Finfish Farming (e.g., salmon, tilapia, catfish) (AFAEAAAA), Aquaculture Processing & On-Farm Value-Add (primary handling, icing, packing) (AFAEAAAN)
Keywords
Where AquaGen AS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Trondheim
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
AquaGen AS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Salmon and Trout Rogn (Fish Eggs): Production and sale of fertilized salmon and rainbow trout rogn (fish eggs) to aquaculture producers worldwide. Core business generating revenue from genetic starting material. Products include GEN-innOva GAIN, GEN-innOva SHIELD, GEN-innOva CMS Edge, TERRA-nOva LAND for salmon, and OCEANQUEEN for rainbow trout. Year-round production capability enabled by innovative sea and land-based broodstock production combination.
- Genetic Material and Broodstock: Sale of genetic material and broodstock services. The company manages and develops the Norwegian Code - the oldest scientific breeding program for Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
AquaGen AS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AquaGen AS is a research-oriented aquaculture breeding company that produces and sells genetically superior fertilized salmon and rainbow trout rogn (eggs) to global aquaculture producers. The company operates the world's oldest scientific breeding program for Atlantic salmon (since 1971) and rainbow trout (since 1968), using genomic selection to deliver eggs with improved growth, disease resistance, and fillet quality. Products are marketed under brands including GEN-innOva®, TERRA-nOva®, and OCEANQUEEN®.
Product overview
AquaGen AS is a research-oriented breeding company that develops, manufactures, and delivers genetic starting material and fertilized salmon roe (eggs) to the global aquaculture industry. The product portfolio includes three main Atlantic salmon egg product lines under the GEN-innOva® brand: GAIN (high-performing for sea-based production), SHIELD (robust with disease resistance), and CMS Edge (premium with CMS resistance), plus TERRA-nOva® LAND for land-based aquaculture. For rainbow trout, the company offers OCEANQUEEN® products. All products are backed by the world's oldest scientific breeding program for Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout, established in 1971, using genomic selection with 70,000 genetic markers across 1,000 salmon families.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GEN-innOva®: Breeding brand for Atlantic salmon using genomic selection with products including GAIN (high-performing), SHIELD (robust), and CMS Edge (premium product for CMS resistance)
- OCEANQUEEN®
- TERRA-nOva® LAND
Products and services
- GEN-innOva® GAIN High-performing Atlantic salmon genetic starting material selected for excellent growth, feed efficiency, and short production time. Produced from the best broodstock with genetic qualities that keep salmon healthy throughout the lifecycle. Designed for sea-based salmon aquaculture producers.
- GEN-innOva® SHIELD Robust Atlantic salmon genetic material providing protection against major viral diseases (IPN, PD, CMS, HSMB). Offers good growth with relatively short time in freshwater and seawater, minimizing exposure to sea lice and pathogens. Designed for sea-based salmon aquaculture producers.
- GEN-innOva® CMS Edge Premium Atlantic salmon product with strengthened natural resistance against CMS (Cardiomyopathy Syndrome/hjertesprekk) using QTL-based selection. Delivers high growth, reduced disease-related loss, and more robust smolt for safer production.
- TERRA-nOva® LAND All Female Atlantic salmon eggs from specific pathogen-free (SPF) broodstock, produced at the land-based facility AquaGen Profunda in Barstadvik. Developed specifically for land-based aquaculture with only female fish.
- OCEANQUEEN® Rainbow trout (fjordørret) genetic material from the world's only scientifically-driven breeding program since 1968. Now in broodstock generation 17, bred for responsible and safe sea production of large, silver and delicate fjordørret. Selected for silver color, IPN resistance, FLAVO resistance, and growth.
- Rogn (Salmon and Trout Roe/Eggs) Genetically superior fish eggs with robust genetics providing highly robust and healthy fish with good performance. The primary genetic starting material for responsible, profitable, and sustainable Atlantic salmon and fjordørret farming.
- Stamfisk (Broodstock) Management Services Broodstock management and development services. AquaGen manages and develops 'the Norwegian Code' - the oldest scientific breeding program for Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout, maintaining genetic material as a living gene bank.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90%+ reduction in IPN outbreaks since 2009 through genetic selection using markers
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use AquaGen AS
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
AquaGen AS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature9 records
AquaGen AS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Mattilsynet (Norwegian Food Safety Authority)coreOfficial approval body for WOAH status and EU export approval for Profunda facility. Conducted extensive sampling and documentation work in collaboration with AquaGen. Required for annual re-certification.
- Havforskningsinstituttet (Institute of Marine Research)coreResearch partner in RISE project (Resistance in Salmon with CRISPR Editing) along with NMBU. Project receives 10 million NOK from Research Council of Norway (2025-2028). Aiming to develop sea lice resistant salmon using CRISPR technology.
- Artec AquacoreTotal contractor for Profunda expansion in Barstadvik, Ørsta municipality. 150 million NOK contract. Also served as total contractor for 2018 expansion (2000 m3 tank volume) and completed full-cycle facility in 2022. Provided process plant and building delivery.
- Norway Royal Salmon (NRS)coreStrategic 3-year rogn supply agreement for approximately 17 million rogn annually for their new Dåfjord smolt facility near Tromsø. Worth over 100 million NOK. Includes 100% GAIN rogn and focus on sterile fish for green permits. NRS to become nearly self-sufficient in smolt through this agreement.
- Namdal RensefiskminorWorld's first breeding station for ballan wrasse (rognkjeks) in cooperation with AquaGen. First generation of AquaGen's own broodstock produced there. Part of CYCLOBREED project led by Nofima.
- Nordnorsk Stamfisk (NST)coreJoint venture for broodstock and rogn production in Northern Norway. Established in 2010 (celebrated 15th anniversary in 2025). Originally founded by Cermaq, Nordlaks, Nova Sea and AquaGen, now owned and operated solely by AquaGen. Produces rogn for half of all farmed salmon in Northern Norway - 1.6 billion meals annually.
- NMBU (Norwegian University of Life Sciences)coreResearch collaboration on advanced genomics and breeding research. AquaGen researchers located at NMBU campus in Ås. Joint research projects including 'The Power of Genetics' published in Aquaculture Journal 2022. Also collaborated on salmon fillet color research project.
- CermaqminorOriginal co-founder of Nordnorsk Stamfisk joint venture along with Nordlaks, Nova Sea and AquaGen. Now AquaGen operates NST alone.
- NordlaksminorOriginal co-founder of Nordnorsk Stamfisk joint venture. Partnership continues through NST arrangement.
- Nova SeacoreOriginal co-founder of Nordnorsk Stamfisk. Nova Sea CEO Tom Eirik Aasjord appointed as new Group CEO of AquaGen effective January 1, 2026. Deep operational and strategic ties continue.
- Veterinærinstituttet (Norwegian Veterinary Institute)coreSupported WOAH certification work for Profunda facility. Provided veterinary expertise and support for biosecurity design and establishment.
- Veterinærinstituttet (Norwegian Veterinary Institute)coreCharacterization of IPN virus strains identifying new variant. Ongoing monitoring and research collaboration on fish health.
- FHF (Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Funding)coreResearch funding body for fisheries and aquaculture. Funded salmon fillet color research project between NMBU and AquaGen.
- NofimacoreResearch partner in CYCLOBREED project for ballan wrasse reproduction biology and breeding. Also involved in salmon breeding and genetics research.
- VESO VikanminorResearch facility where AquaGen conducted IPN challenge tests with traditional and new virus variants across several thousand salmon.
- Innovasjon Norge (Innovation Norway)minorKorean delegation visited Profunda facility as part of collaboration with Innovation Norway.
- NTNUcoreResearch collaboration on ballan wrasse reproduction biology through CYCLOBREED project. Partner in fish health and breeding research.
- LetSeaminorResearch station at Dønna where AquaGen conducted sea water experiments on salmon fillet color including hypoxia and handling stress tests.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AquaGen AS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Landcatch (Hendrix Genetics): Landcatch, now part of Hendrix Genetics, is one of the original Atlantic salmon breeding companies and AquaGen's most direct competitor in salmon genetic selection for the global aquaculture market. Both companies sell fertilized salmon rogn and broodstock to commercial salmon farmers and operate globally.
- SalmoBreed (Benchmark Genetics): SalmoBreed, acquired by Benchmark Holdings, is a direct salmon genetics competitor offering selectively bred Atlantic salmon eggs to the aquaculture industry. Both companies compete on growth, disease resistance, and product portfolio breadth for salmon farmers in Norway, Scotland, and Chile.
- Troutlodge (Hendrix Genetics): Troutlodge, also part of Hendrix Genetics, is the world's leading rainbow trout egg supplier and the direct competitor to AquaGen's OCEANQUEEN® trout program. Both companies supply selectively bred rainbow trout eggs globally to commercial aquaculture producers.
- StofnFiskur: StofnFiskur is an Icelandic salmon and cod breeding company providing fertilized eggs and broodstock to aquaculture producers. As a peer selectively breeding finfish for commercial sale, it competes with AquaGen in the salmon genetics market, particularly for the European and North Atlantic geographies.
Broad incumbents
- Hendrix Genetics: Hendrix Genetics is a multi-species animal breeding company that owns both Landcatch (salmon) and Troutlodge (trout), making it the broadest incumbent competitor to AquaGen across finfish genetics. It offers a portfolio of breeding programs across multiple species rather than specializing in salmon/trout only.
- Benchmark Holdings: Benchmark Holdings owns SalmoBreed and provides broader aquaculture genetics, health, and nutrition solutions across multiple species. As the parent of AquaGen's salmon peer, it operates in the same industry space but with a wider portfolio beyond pure salmon breeding.
Emerging players
- AquaBounty Technologies: AquaBounty is a smaller, emerging aquaculture genetics company focused on genetically engineered (transgenic) Atlantic salmon with faster growth rates. While not a direct competitor in conventional breeding, it represents an alternative technological approach to genetic improvement in salmon that could disrupt the broader market.
Others
- EW Group (AquaGen Parent): EW Group is AquaGen's 100% parent company and a diversified global breeding conglomerate with 160 subsidiaries in animal genetics, nutrition, and pharma. While not a competitor, EW Group's other breeding subsidiaries (e.g., Aviagen for poultry, Hy-Line for layers) provide context on AquaGen's positioning within a larger animal genetics portfolio.
- Nofima: Nofima is Norway's leading food and aquaculture research institute, a research partner of AquaGen in projects like CYCLOBREED. While not a commercial competitor, it is an adjacent ecosystem participant that conducts applied research in aquaculture breeding and genetics that informs the industry.
- Mowi (formerly Marine Harvest): Mowi is the world's largest salmon farming company and a major AquaGen customer, but it also operates its own internal salmon breeding program. Mowi represents both a key customer and a potential vertical-integration threat as the largest buyer of salmon genetics globally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AquaGen AS social profiles
Digital presenceAquaGen AS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance10 records
AquaGen AS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AquaGen AS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
AquaGen AS subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
AquaGen AS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AquaGen AS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AquaGen AS
What does AquaGen AS do?
AquaGen AS is a research-oriented aquaculture breeding company that produces and sells genetically superior fertilized salmon and rainbow trout rogn (eggs) to global aquaculture producers. The company operates the world's oldest scientific breeding program for Atlantic salmon (since 1971) and rainbow trout (since 1968), using genomic selection to deliver eggs with improved growth, disease resistance, and fillet quality. Products are marketed under brands including GEN-innOva®, TERRA-nOva®, and OCEANQUEEN®.
Is AquaGen AS a public or private company?
AquaGen AS is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was AquaGen AS founded?
AquaGen AS was founded in 1971.
Where is AquaGen AS based?
AquaGen AS is headquartered in Trondheim, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does AquaGen AS make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Salmon and Trout Rogn (Fish Eggs) is the primary driver. The others are genetic Material and Broodstock.
Who are AquaGen AS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Landcatch (Hendrix Genetics), SalmoBreed (Benchmark Genetics), Troutlodge (Hendrix Genetics) and StofnFiskur. Broad incumbents are Hendrix Genetics and Benchmark Holdings. AquaBounty Technologies is listed as an emerging player. Others are EW Group (AquaGen Parent), Nofima and Mowi (formerly Marine Harvest).
Does AquaGen AS have an API?
No public API is recorded for AquaGen AS.
What industry is AquaGen AS in?
AquaGen AS's product category is Aquaculture Genetics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAJAN, Aquaculture Breeding & Genetics Services (e.g., broodstock improvement), with a secondary code of AFAEAAAA, Finfish Farming (e.g., salmon, tilapia, catfish). Its NAICS code is 112511.