The National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) is driving innovation across the UK seafood sector through applied research, industry partnerships, and knowledge transfer. Its mission is to deliver practical, science-led solutions that help businesses improve efficiency, cut carbon, and enhance competitiveness. And through initiatives like the Coolfish 3 project, NCFM is supporting seafood processors to achieve measurable sustainability gains.

NCFM’s reach extends beyond the UK through international partnerships with Iceland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands, focused on improving resource utilisation and achieving 100% fish use across the supply chain. These collaborations bring together expertise in processing innovation, cold-chain optimisation, and by-product valorisation, addressing shared challenges around efficiency, waste reduction, and logistics. By connecting the UK seafood industry with world-leading practices in the North Atlantic, NCFM is helping to build a more integrated, sustainable, and resilient global seafood supply chain.

For example, Case Study A has identified up to 5,000 tonnes of carbon savings by adopting an alternative to onsite CHP (Combined Heating Power), significantly lowering scope 1 emissions gas use and providing long-term protection against future carbon levies.  Whilst Case Study B has worked with the NCFM team to transform its defrost process — reducing overall thawing process time by 86% and cutting costs by 64%.

Beyond collaborative projects, NCFM offers a range of opportunities for businesses to embed innovation and expertise within their operations. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) and Accelerated KTPs (AKTPs) enable companies to integrate academic insight and technical challenges in decarbonisation, automation, process optimisation, digitalisation, and product innovation, helping businesses unlock commercial growth while meeting sustainability targets. NCFM also provides research and consultancy support, allowing seafood companies to diagnose process inefficiencies, explore new technologies, and implement tailored, evidence-based solutions.

For more information on the opportunities to collaborate and/or receive a copy of the CoolFish Report please contact jbellamy@lincoln.ac.uk

Accredited to the UK Seafood Federation newsletter December 2025