Danish biotech company REDUCED and Royal Greenland, one of the world’s largest seafood suppliers, have signed an agreement to develop value from side streams. The partnership aims to transform prawn processing side streams into clean-label, high-performance taste solutions for future commercialisation.

The partnership applies REDUCED’s proprietary fermentation-based platform to prawn shells and heads, which represent nearly half of the cold-water prawn biomass. Traditionally used for low-cost food and feed ingredients, this material is now being upcycled into a natural prawn concentrate with exceptional flavour and broad application potential.

“At Royal Greenland, we work every day to use our resources responsibly. Therefore, we are also proud to enter into a collaboration that clearly demonstrates that good taste solutions and circular thinking can easily go hand in hand. By upcycling the by-products from prawn production, we not only create new high-quality products, but we also reduce waste and actively contribute to the future of food production. Every time we fish, we have a responsibility to manage the catch in the best possible way.”
– Kristian Ottesen, Director, Royal Greenland

Royal Greenland, certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for its sustainable cold-water prawn fisheries, brings scale, supply chain credibility, and a clear route to market to the partnership. Together with REDUCED’s fermentation expertise, the collaboration shows how circular processing can turn side streams with great potential into high-value taste solutions, demonstrating both strong commercial potential and a clear path toward more resource-efficient seafood production.

“Circularity only succeeds when it creates real value,” says Emil Munck de Voss, CEO and Co-founder of REDUCED. “In this partnership, we are proving that by applying our fermentation platform we can not only address side stream utilisation but also deliver a product that chefs and manufacturers genuinely want to use because of its outstanding taste.”

Product outcome

Based on prototype results, the parties are confident they will launch a new prawn product that offers:

• Exceptional flavour profile, with distinct umami and roasted crustacean notes
• Clean-label credentials, free from yeast extracts, additives, or flavourings
• Culinary versatility, suitable for a wide range of applications, from soups, sauces, condiments, snacks, and ready meals.
• Shelf stability, with up to two years of tested lifespan
• Traceable circularity, directly tied to Royal Greenland’s own production

Strategic value

This collaboration proves that circularity and gastronomy can go hand in hand, delivering scalable solutions that are both climate-smart and commercially viable. It also shows how REDUCED and Royal Greenland can jointly create value for large-scale food producers without requiring major infrastructure changes.

At Royal Greenland, we are constantly looking for opportunities to improve what we do. The collaboration with REDUCED is a strong example that while we can achieve a lot on our own, a solid partner can help open new doors. In this case, REDUCED enables us to utilise our by-products more efficiently without the need for major infrastructural changes. It exemplifies so well how respect for the entire product forms the glue in our work.”
– Kristian Ottesen, Director, Royal Greenland

“This is not just about one prawn ingredient,” adds Lorenzo Tirelli, R&D Manager at REDUCED. “It is proof that side streams can power the next generation of flavour.”

Fact box: Prawn Flavour and market potential

• The global prawn market was valued at USD 56.33 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% through 2030 (Grand View Research, 2025).
• Marine flavour enhancers, often derived from shrimp shells, represent around 6% of the global flavour enhancer market, a segment growing faster than other flavour categories at 6.3% per year (Rubin, 2010; GEMBA Seafood Consulting for Danish Seafood Association, 2020).
• Fish soups and sauces account for around 75% of the total market for marine extracts and powders, highlighting the broad appeal of prawn and shrimp-based flavourings in culinary applications (GEMBA Seafood Consulting, 2020).
• In consumer trends, fish and seafood launches with clean label claims such as “no additives/preservatives” (15%), “natural” (10%), and “organic” (9%) continue to grow, especially in Europe (Innova Market Insights, Dec 2024).
• With established sales channels across retail (20%), foodservice (16%), and industry (62%), and a global presence spanning Europe (27%), Scandinavia (20%), Asia (33%), and North America (18%), Royal Greenland provides a strong platform to scale the commercialisation of new taste solutions developed in this collaboration.

About REDUCED

REDUCED is a Danish biotech company specialising in turning side streams from the food and agriculture sectors into natural, clean-label taste solutions for food manufacturers and professional kitchens. 

Its proprietary fermentation platform extracts rich, umami-forward flavours from side streams, enabling the creation of high-performance ingredients for soups, sauces, condiments, ready meals, snacks, processed meats, and plant-based or hybrid formulations. 

By combining advanced fermentation technology with culinary expertise, REDUCED delivers scalable solutions that enhance flavour while supporting a more circular food system.

Learn more: www.reducedfoods.com

About Royal Greenland

Royal Greenland is the North Atlantic leader in fish and shellfish. As a global provider, Royal Greenland has experience in innovative product development and efficient distribution of quality products. Royal Greenland is owned by the Greenlandic Government and has deep roots in Greenlandic culture. The company carries a unique obligation to create value for all of Greenland. This commitment is formalised in the company’s societal contract, which is about balancing economic growth with social responsibility and responsible use of resources.

Responsible fishing is a cornerstone of Royal Greenland’s business model. The company actively works with MSC certification and invests in innovative solutions that can reduce waste and maximise the responsible use of marine resources. The company collaborates with Sustainable Fisheries Greenland and contributes to the development of new species and technologies that safeguard marine biodiversity and the future of food. Learn more: www.royalgreenland.com