Fredrik Schmidt Fotland og hans selskap Wastech har nylig mottatt den prestisjetunge Gründerprisen til Avfall Norge. Det Bergensbaserte selskapet er en del av Aggrator sitt startup-program. Prisen er en anerkjennelse av selskapets arbeid med å håndtere matavfall på en bærekraftig måte som bidrar til både bedre jordsmonn og redusert klimafotavtrykk.
Food waste, overproduction and depletion of soil and climate footprint
Food waste accounts for a significant share of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, as much as 8-10 percent . The UN's sustainability goal is to halve the global amount of food waste by 2030.
Wastech collects food waste from commercial operations and uses a circular fermentation process to transform the waste into liquid fertilizer and soil. With its large-scale solution, the company is able to produce a whopping 15,000 liters of organic fertilizer from just 1,000 kg of food waste.
In addition to utilizing food waste, Wastech also addresses the challenges associated with agriculture's dependence on artificial fertilizers. Artificial fertilizers are largely to blame for depleted soils. Neither chemicals nor energy-intensive heating are required to make Wastech's fertilizer. The solution is also short-lived; the company can adapt production to local needs.
We will always throw away some of our food, such as peels. These are resources that can be used. An EU report shows that 60-70 percent of Europe's topsoil is dying. The soil needs to be revitalized with new soil. Our product is a quick fix for poor soil. Compared to composting, we cut greenhouse gas emissions by 97 percent – including transport and andre relevant factors.
From home composting to award-winning waste management company
Previously, entrepreneur Fredrik Schmidt Fotland has had several different ventures in the startup world, from microalgae production and book publishing to consulting on the utilization of residual raw materials. In 2021, he founded Wastech, which has today grown to a team of eight people.
The team at Wastech has been working on this for a long time, a full 3.5 years, so for us this is a great recognition of the work we have put in. The waste management industry is very forward-looking, so it means a lot to win this award.
Aggrator støtter Wastech på reisen mot global vekst
The solution has international potential and is currently being tested with customers and partners.
Aggrator er stolte av å jobbe tett med Wastech for å fremme mer bærekraftig landbruk og effektiv matavfallshåndtering. Vårt team og nettverk støtter vi Wastech med kompetanseheving, strategi og relasjonsbygging med potensielle kunder og investorer.
In total, the company has raised approximately NOK 10 million since its inception, from, among others, The Factory, Møkster Investering AS and Bjørk Invest AS.
Vi i Aggrator ser frem til å fortsette samarbeidet. Gratulerer til Wastech med den velfortjente Gründerprisen til Avfall Norge!
Startup, scaleup or spin-off within agrifoodtech or the environment? Take a look at our programs and contact us!