Susanna Airaksinen has returned to Alltech Fennoaqua as the new Development Manager after a break of a couple of years. Airaksinen is responsible for feed development in close cooperation with other Fennoaqua experts. She wants to make more use of Fennoaqua’s extensive networks and international research. As an expert with long experience, Airaksinen is also interested in the possibilities for the sector to address issues such as sustainability and sufficiency of food production.

Susanna Airaksinen

Susanna Airaksinen joined Fennoaqua at the beginning of October as Development Manager for feed development. She works in close cooperation with the Quality Manager, Production and Sales.

“Understanding the nutritional needs, health and well-being of fish is at the heart of feed development: why and how different physiological processes occur in the fish’s body. This sets the boundaries and guidelines for development within my domain.”

Airaksinen says she wants to utilise Fennoaqua’s extensive networks and international research more.

“Our research partners, networks, and sister company Alltech Coppens contribute to feed development, and I want to enhance this interaction further. Where appropriate, I want to bring lessons from around the world for our benefit. Putting research knowledge into practice and supporting operators is rewarding and the number one thing for us.”

Of course, an influential group that is being listened to is fish farmers.

“Much work on feed and policy development is done with farmers because they have unique issues and needs in their diverse farming and operating environments.”

Fish feeding expert returns to Raisio

Airaksinen worked with fish feed in Raisio from 2015 to 2022, and while the practices and spirit of the house were familiar, there are now also new horizons in store.

“In our small, dynamic organisation, everyone’s input is visible, and things move swiftly forward. I knew the work here would be done with dedication and ambition and in a straightforward, uncomplicated and relaxed way.”

Airaksinen praises the fact that in Fennoaqua, people want to succeed together.

“That includes our colleagues and customers, some of whom I have known for a long time. Customers are our partners with whom we work to create competitive, great products so that the end user, the consumer buying the fish, also wins. This is achieved through a rigorous research approach and by giving and receiving feedback openly.”

Fish farming touches on important issues

Airaksinen is interested in how the fish farming sector can contribute to addressing future issues of sustainability, sufficiency, and adaptation to climate change in terms of the world’s food supply.

“These are big questions to which we at Fennoaqua have been and will continue to contribute to finding solutions. I would like to see us at the forefront in our country, together with the actors in the production chain, the authorities, and the decision-makers.”

A long career with fish

Airaksinen’s career has revolved around fish and fish nutrition since her days as a student.

“I became interested in the regulatory mechanisms of stress and adaptation in fish during my biology studies at the University of Helsinki. I graduated from Helsinki with a master’s degree in philosophy. My doctoral research brought me to Turku, but also took me to other interesting places, from Greenland to Antarctica, in search of fish adapted to cold and cool waters.”

From 2002, Airaksinen worked as a researcher at the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, now the Natural Resources Institute Finland.

“That work eventually led me into the fascinating and complex world of domestic fisheries and fish farming. Over two periods, 2002–2015 and 2022–2024, for 15 years, we studied fish welfare, quality, nutrition and environmental performance in relation to production methods, feeding, environmental conditions or fish genetics.”