Beneath the ocean surface lies an incredible resource called Ciona –
a new source of food with an exceptionally low climate footprint!
Ciona exists naturally along the Norwegian and Swedish coasts. It is a filter-feeding animal that captures its own food and therefore does not require external feeding. Beyond a natural habitat, not much else is necessary for Ciona to thrive and grow in our cultivation facilities. After about three months in the sea, they are ready for harvest.
To grow, Ciona depends on filtering nutrients from the sea. In nutrient-rich areas, Ciona cultivation can help promote biodiversity and create healthier marine ecosystems. A big advantage is also that we don’t have to use land to grow Ciona. There is hardly any arable land left; therefore, we will have to get much more of our food from the sea in the future.
As a result, Ciona has an extremely low climate footprint* for a raw material that is used directly in food production.
* 0.22 kg CO2-eq/kg for Purply (Norsus, 2024). See the list of more raw materials and foods at Framtiden.no.
Ciona grows naturally in Norway and Sweden.
Pronofa has established production facilities in Stenungsund (SE) and Hustadvika (NO), with several associated marine facilities nearby for cultivation and harvesting of the raw material.
