Baldur Hjaltason, senior fellow and manager at Epax, was presented with the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED) Industry Leadership Award at the 2014 GOED Exchange in Salt Lake City, Utah earlier this month. As the sixth recipient of the award, Hjaltason is among an exclusive group recognized for their contributions and impact to the omega-3 industry.

An industry veteran for more than 30 years and ‘top expert’ on trends and science in omega-3s, Hjaltason has been involved in B2B sales for Epax in North America, Japan and China, as well as the organization’s strategic business development. Epax is a Norway-based world leader in manufacturing of high purity, marine-derived premium grade omega-3 fatty acid concentrates. Working on behalf of Epax, Mr. Hjaltason was involved in the forming of the working group of fish oil as a part of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a group that later became GOED. Hjaltason has served as an active member of the GOED Board fulfilling the role of president for two years. 

“Watching the omega-3 industry evolve is a dream come true for me,” said Hjaltason. “As a little boy, I remember my mother and her friends using cod liver oil as a remedy with an appreciation for the oil’s special powers. That may have been the spark that led to my career. Nevertheless, I’m proud to see how the industry has grown to a 2 billion dollar global business.

“With Baldur's contributions, our organization has evolved from a small trade association to an organization with the capacity to have a big impact on human nutrition,” said Adam Ismail, GOED executive director.” “It has been amazing to watch competing processors, refiners, manufacturers, distributors, marketers and retailers unite under a shared mission of maintaining the quality of omega-3 sources while protecting and advancing the industry at large. We appreciate Baldur's service, it has furthered the industry as a whole.”

Hjaltason’s other contributions to the industry include membership in the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids, AOCS and the Nordic Lipid Forum where he served as a board mentor for a great many years, as well as numerous contributions through papers and book chapters on omega-3s.