On May 20, Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Marianne Sivertsen Næss, officially opened Ode’s new office at Øvre Slottsgate 27 in Oslo. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by customers, partners, employees and invited guests, with Ode founders Ola Kvalheim and Tor Olav Seim joining the Minister for the opening.

The new office represents another important step for Ode. Founded just over six years ago, the company now employs nearly 300 people and operates a fully integrated value chain - from roe, hatchery and juvenile production through a network of sea sites along the Norwegian coast, to processing facilities and downstream activities.

In his opening remarks, CEO Ola Kvalheim reflected on growing up along the Norwegian coast and his ambition to help create thriving coastal communities. He also highlighted technologies and innovations that support Ode’s ambition of producing healthy, high-quality food with a low environmental footprint.

Among these innovations is the company’s deep farming technology, which keeps fish deeper in the water column during the sea phase. This approach contributes to improved fish welfare, stronger production performance, better product quality and reduced risk of early maturation.

Kvalheim also highlighted sex-sorting technology, designed to address one of the industry's most significant concerns: the potential for farmed cod to reproduce in sea cages and create viable offspring. Ode expects to have a solution in place this winter.

"We haven’t worked around the challenges - we have addressed them directly and systematically, in close collaboration with researchers and regulators," said Ola Kvalheim.

"If our industry is to reach the scale envisioned by the UN, we need to develop responsibly and build strong solutions. Challenges are best solved when industry, research institutions and authorities work together."

Ode continues to develop according to plan and currently has more than 20 open positions, primarily in coastal regions where the company operates. The company is proud to play an increasingly important role in local communities by creating jobs and supporting long-term regional growth.

In her opening speech, the Minister expressed strong support for the industry, stating that “Cod farming has never been stronger.” At the same time, she emphasized that continued growth depends on the industry addressing its challenges responsibly, with government acting both as facilitator and regulator.

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